Paraord's grow blog 2018

[deluxestogie]

You can smoke color-cured leaf. Some varieties aren't bad after a month or two. Most will taste raw and unfinished. But it's safe to smoke.

I would fill that Crockpot with hot tap water, then just check the feel of the leaves once a day. As long as they are somewhat pliable, they will kiln. Using less water just increases the frequency with which you have to add water again. (Don't add cold tap water to a hot, empty Crockpot.)

Bob

 

[Paraord]

Crockpot is filled with hot water, temp sitting at 119 +- .5 degrees, fan on 1/3 speed. And the lid is just a touch off to the side. And the great experiment continues!

Ill try some of that tobacco I cut just to do it. Its hard to wait any longer seeing as this process has eclipsed 7 months so far! I want to try some results!! Albeit a rough representation of the finished product.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

They

Crockpot is filled with hot water, temp sitting at 119 +- .5 degrees, fan on 1/3 speed. And the lid is just a touch off to the side. And the great experiment continues!

Ill try some of that tobacco I cut just to do it. Its hard to wait any longer seeing as this process has eclipsed 7 months so far! I want to try some results!! Albeit a rough representation of the finished product.

They say tobacco is a Thirteen month crop, so you're right on schedule.

 

[deluxestogie]

a rough representation of the finished product.

More like a misrepresentation.

I am generally quite pleased with the quality of tobacco that I produce...AND...it is usually truly crappy and disappointing when I sample it before it has been kilned and then rested for at least a week after kilning. Sometimes it needs a month or more of rest after kilning, before it shows me what its character has become.

I think your plan for kilning is fine. [see my latest post in my Grow Log for a clarification of my present kilning practice]

Bob

 

[Paraord]

Bob that is very helpful, thank you very much. Ill tune that PID up to 125F and take the lid off.

 

[deluxestogie]

Good luck. You'll get to find out how well that kiln is insulated and sealed.

Bob

 

[Paraord]

guys......how do you stave off the insatiable desire to try some constantly??? Its gonna be hellacious to wait 4-6 weeks.

 

[OldDinosaurWesH]

That's why you kiln tobacco. To drive the excess nitrogen off. I'll guess the tobacco you shredded without kilning will have an ammonia taste. I have tobacco that has been hanging for a year or in some cases more, and they could still use some kilning.

Wes H.

 

[deluxestogie]

guys......how do you stave off the insatiable desire to try some constantly??? Its gonna be hellacious to wait 4-6 weeks.

Buy some leaf from WLT.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

guys......how do you stave off the insatiable desire to try some constantly??? Its gonna be hellacious to wait 4-6 weeks.

I don't stave off nothing. Try it as it goes and you learn more. What you learn might be intangible, but, whatever.

 

[Paraord]

I don't stave off nothing. Try it as it goes and you learn more. What you learn might be intangible, but, whatever.

Well tonight I tried the color cured/ pre kiln stuff I cut with the Teck 1. The leaves I cut were pretty leathery after sitting in this 90 degree 80 percent humidity for a few months. I mixed up equal parts Tennessee Red Leaf, Indian Black, Little Crittenden, and Yellow Orinco. It was really quite pleasant, tastes of hay and slightly sweet. Reminded me a lot of my last tin of Dunhill Virginia Flake. Well any Virginia really. Which is what I like! Maybe get a little perique in there someday but this seems like a fine mixture for me and a great start into this.

 

[Paraord]

Man oh man! Almost 2 weeks in and those leaves in the kiln are really nice looking/smelling/feeling. Im thinking about getting another couple rows in there or simply stack them on top of the grates in piles. Any thoughts on that? Here's a couple pictures but without smell-o-vision its lacking the best part.

Mrs. Paraord said tonight "Your room smells amazing, like my Oolong tea." I can live with that! Because I quite enjoy the smell as well (of course).

 

[CobGuy]

I can smell it ... in my mind.

Congrats!

~Darin

 

[Paraord]

Having another pipe of my 4 tobacco blend. Boy is it nice and mild. The jar has a semi sweet scent, smells like raisins actually.

Anyone have thoughts on just piling up leaves on the grates in piles? I have a good bit more ready to enter the kiln.

 

[deluxestogie]

piling up leaves on the grates in piles?

It works.

Bob

 

[Paraord]

Went thru and was pulling leaves off for the piles, lucky me I had 2 bunches with some mold in between the leaves. Chucked the whole cluster that was contaminated, and not really too worried about that level of attrition given the starting quantity. I mean I have plenty. Ill grab a space heater for the room to make sure the top stays a little hotter. Maybe for next year Ill get into the Attic and set it up for drying with paracord lines throughout. Ill have to get a drop down ladder thing. And I have to get some red bricks for the hearth I am planning on building. I think Ill head to Lowes......

I did get a pile of Tennessee Red Leaf on the top grate, and Little Crittenden on the bottom.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

A fan inside the chamber would help too. Or do you have one already? If so, it might not be warm enough.

 

[Paraord]

No, no the stuff in the kiln is fine. Its the stuff drying pre-kiln

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

No, no the stuff in the kiln is fine. Its the stuff drying pre-kiln

Oh, good news.

 

[Paraord]

Well, we are creeping up to the end of 4 weeks in the kiln. What now? The next batch is ready to go in, and I put in a batch a week ago. I know I am supposed to let them rest somehow but I think I need to explore more on post kilning and long term storage. I am pretty partial to those half gallon Ball jars as I have a good stock of them. I would imagine prior to long term storing it would be advantageous to destem them in order to minimize moisture for mold? I know I have some research ahead of me, better get to it!