Twist Drying

[tobaccotwist]

I recently ordered some leaves on here to make some twists. I know how to make the actual twist and I chew unsweetened twist, Red Ox brand, so I'm not really trying to flavor them (though I may experiment with it some). My question is do the twists need to sit somewhere to 'season' or can I just start chewing them? I made twists several years ago when I grew a tobacco crop, but they had a grassy taste, that however was due to unrelated issues I think (bad cure and suckers) An old timer I know told me they used to make them when he was a kid and hang them in closets for months to years to deter moths and chew them intermittently as well but I don't know if that is actually necessary for making them good to chew. His wife did the same thing as a child for her dad to chew. I would rather not have to wait a year to chew them haha. I ordered burley, dark air, and dark fire, a pound each. I might try to blend them too, but I don't know, I think dark air is probably what Red Ox is.

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Sold as whole leaf, burley usually improves significantly with aging or pressing. Other members more familiar with making twists can perhaps provide more guidance.

Bob

 

[johnny108]

I use a noodle press to really crank down the pressure, and 2 weeks gives a noticeable improvement.
The easiest way to find out is to make several twists, and taste at monthly intervals.
Hopefully you make enough so that the best one, isn’t also the last one.

 

[tobaccotwist]

I use a noodle press to really crank down the pressure, and 2 weeks gives a noticeable improvement.
The easiest way to find out is to make several twists, and taste at monthly intervals.
Hopefully you make enough so that the best one, isn’t also the last one.

Interesting I have never heard of a noodle press, I will look into that, I'm guessing it is similar to the premise of wooden molds for making plugs?

 

[deluxestogie]

1. Ziploc bag under a stack of books...OR
2. https://fairtradetobacco.com/threads/china-voodoos-carotte-method.12000/

Bob

 

[johnny108]

Interesting I have never heard of a noodle press, I will look into that, I'm guessing it is similar to the premise of wooden molds for making plugs?

 

[johnny108]

Amazon sells them- they make a pretty good (and tight) puck of tobacco, that takes up a lot less space.
My burley came out ok with it, but the burley I started with wasn’t great (unknown seeds from Amazon). The dark tobacco I pressed came out amazing: strong flavor and tingling your gums nicotine (another unknown Amazon variant called simply “Kentucky dark”).
I would use the carrotte method- but time is a factor for me (kids). I can stuff leaves into the press and crank it down in under 5 minutes, set it on a high shelf and wait two weeks. That’s why I use it.

 

[tobaccotwist]

Amazon sells them- they make a pretty good (and tight) puck of tobacco, that takes up a lot less space.
My burley came out ok with it, but the burley I started with wasn’t great (unknown seeds from Amazon). The dark tobacco I pressed came out amazing: strong flavor and tingling your gums nicotine (another unknown Amazon variant called simply “Kentucky dark”).
I would use the carrotte method- but time is a factor for me (kids). I can stuff leaves into the press and crank it down in under 5 minutes, set it on a high shelf and wait two weeks. That’s why I use it.

Really interesting. My tobacco should get here this week, definitely going to try some different experiments, I had never even considered this option. Thanks for the info

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

A decent caulking gun has worked for some people with loose tobacco.

 

[tobaccotwist]

A decent caulking gun has worked for some people with loose tobacco.

Now that is definitely creative, cheap and accessbile. I actually have access to, but not at the moment or I would post a picture, an old press from when they tied 'tobacco hands,' but I don't know much about it or exactly what role it played in that process. I wonder why exactly pressing the tobacco causes it to change flavor? With Burley it is hung and cures for around 40 days, stripped and graded, and by the time we get its been in compressed bales for who knows how long. This is definitely an aspect of tobacco I don't fully understand and need to learn more about.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

This is definitely an aspect of tobacco I don't fully understand and need to learn more about.

Welcome to the club. I think it's best to just do and smoke and experience.

Edit, pardon me, chew

 

[tobaccotwist]

Welcome to the club. I think it's best to just do and smoke and experience.

Edit, pardon me, chew

Haha, I'll be 'combusting' some too, so you weren't entirely in error

 

[Waylon]

View attachment 50368

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Amazon sells them- they make a pretty good (and tight) puck of tobacco, that takes up a lot less space.
My burley came out ok with it, but the burley I started with wasn’t great (unknown seeds from Amazon). The dark tobacco I pressed came out amazing: strong flavor and tingling your gums nicotine (another unknown Amazon variant called simply “Kentucky dark”).
I would use the carrotte method- but time is a factor for me (kids). I can stuff leaves into the press and crank it down in under 5 minutes, set it on a high shelf and wait two weeks. That’s why I use it.

I started using the noodle press and have enjoyed it so far, although I’ve only done a week at a time, using various Virginias and a piece of Perique. Next time, I’ll wait two weeks. How moist are your leaves when you start it?

 

[johnny108]

I

I started using the noodle press and have enjoyed it so far, although I’ve only done a week at a time, using various Virginias and a piece of Perique. Next time, I’ll wait two weeks. How moist are your leaves when you start it?

Low case. I put them in the press on days when humidity is around 80%. The leaves bend, but still crackle a bit when pushed into the press. They are not hydrated enough to roll in cigars. I should probably must them with water, but, I was worried about mold, and I am happy with the results, so far.

 

[Waylon]

Low case. I put them in the press on days when humidity is around 80%. The leaves bend, but still crackle a bit when pushed into the press. They are not hydrated enough to roll in cigars. I should probably must them with water, but, I was worried about mold, and I am happy with the results, so far.

Yeah, I didn’t know if mold would appear. I did moisten the leaves when I made a carotte, but that’s all sealed up in plastic.