Using WLT'S bacca for making snus

[POGreen]

I would propose you this John , make a smaller batch on 100 C ( if your wife permits ) over a time of 5-7 days in the oven.
Store it under an extensive period of time ( 2-3 months ) in the fridge and I promise you will have a very different taste to it than u experience today.
This way of treatment is what the tobacco needs to come to justice , when I first sort of discovered it , I could hardly believe it was thue.But now , after making a number of batches and storing them during quite a long time , my mind is made up that this is the way to do it , no doubts what so ever.
Made a snuskit for a friend of mine last week and it had the most awful smell I've ever felt ( was probably from stalkflour ). I detested it completely , now when going back to a Burley I geurillagrowed + Red Leaf and a kilo of Rustica from this years grow that awful smell is gone.
The good news is that you can make a rerun of those batches you don't like today , using the higher sort of degree's on it over a number of days , when the flour is pitchblack , it's good to go.

 

[squeezyjohn]

I have to say that I have tried your methods of higher temperatures PO - and for the longer cook time ... and I find every time that even with enough water in the mixture that the snus tastes burnt and caramelised to me and loses a lot of the character of the tobacco - which is strange as the snus you sent me did not taste the same as my attempts doing it!

I do agree about the ageing though ... that is very true ... after you make the snus there is not a point in even trying it for 3 weeks after it is made as it will taste horrible! Longer ageing smooths the flavours out more.

I will keep on making mine at 85ºC to 90ºC for between 2 and 5 days (depending on the harshness of the tobacco) I really like the snus I can make with that technique as long as I only use not such harsh tobacco and a good blend.

 

[squeezyjohn]

... and I have no chance of using the oven for 7 days for making snus ... I should add ... so I will keep with the crock-pot slow cooker method in the garage!

 

[grgfinney]

Garage=yours, Kitchen=hers, funny I am the one who cooks and fixes the cars

 

[squeezyjohn]

We are not that stereotypical actually ... Garage is used as a pantry for keeping wine, brewing beer, where the freezer lives etc... I have no idea how to fix a car ... and I do most of the cooking in the kitchen!

But I kind of agree with her in separating food preparation and tobacco ... from putting it in my mouth I know it won't kill you ... but I am cooking for children who are 6 and 8 years old ... and I wouldn't want them to eat any snus by mistake. I also wouldn't want the electricity bill for keeping the large oven at 100º for 7 days

 

[alopezg1]

I have been drying my leaves out in the oven at approx 90 degrees c before grinding them up in the blender for roughly 15 minutes , or until they brittle to the touch.... noticing some quite strong nose burning eye watering aromas when i open the oven.... would i be vaporizing the tobacco by doing this and losing some of the nicotine ? Would it be significant?

 

[POGreen]

I do not think you will lose any nicotine by having them in the oven.

 

[ArizonaDave]

I do not think you will lose any nicotine by having them in the oven.

It won't lose nicotine, but heat will release nicotine bound up inside the leaf. Nicotine itself is not bad: http://www.gwern.net/Nicotine

 

[deluxestogie]

AzD,
I read the linked article, while preparing to issue my usual caution about ill-informed journalists. Alas, this is an excellent (and well documented) rundown of the addictive risks of nicotine, as well as some other health consequences.

That's not to say that nicotine is not a dangerously potent poison, if mishandled. But in "consumer" doses, I agree that nicotine alone is not very harmful, and does have a number of clearly demonstrable benefits.

A curious point made in the article is that nicotine, while itself not particularly addictive, can potentiate the addictiveness of other substances and experiences to which the user is concurrently exposed. Perhaps we should all smoke while swabbing out the commode, or while filling out our tax forms.

Bob

 

[Bex]

I am curious as to how they determine, in the cited article, that 'smokeless users' shorten their lives by 15 days. I understood that nicotine remains in your system for about 72 hours - once that time passes, it is not the addiction to nicotine that you 'crave', but the oral behavior pattern.

And, not to air out my 'dirty laundry' but:
"If our findings in mice apply to humans, a decrease in smoking rates in young people would be expected to lead to a decrease in cocaine addiction".
I can tell you from personal experience that this is untrue.

 

[alopezg1]

I may have to invest in one of these ... seems a much more efficient way of producing snus!

Okay Bob , I got it figured out.
leverhead , understand your reply as well.
My friend with the pressure cooker said it was the best snus he'd made.Very efficient indeed.Must be in this way like the big companies make their snus I guess , using a much bigger cooker ofcourse.

Here it is :

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Multikocher-..._Heimwerker_Dampfreiniger&hash=item43c22ff789

You had to pay 10 € for the shipping , sorry , makes a total of 90 €.

 

[ArizonaDave]

AzD,
I read the linked article, while preparing to issue my usual caution about ill-informed journalists. Alas, this is an excellent (and well documented) rundown of the addictive risks of nicotine, as well as some other health consequences.

That's not to say that nicotine is not a dangerously potent poison, if mishandled. But in "consumer" doses, I agree that nicotine alone is not very harmful, and does have a number of clearly demonstrable benefits.

A curious point made in the article is that nicotine, while itself not particularly addictive, can potentiate the addictiveness of other substances and experiences to which the user is concurrently exposed. Perhaps we should all smoke while swabbing out the commode, or while filling out our tax forms.

Bob

Ha ha ha! I'm in agreement with you! And so is my wife!

 

[POGreen]

I may have to invest in one of these ... seems a much more efficient way of producing snus!

My friend says it is very efficient indeed , can't remember really how many hours he has the snus in the pressure cocker but think he's down to 3-4 hours and is very satisfied with the results.
He uses a high temperature when he makes his snus too , about 100 C or 212 F.
The big tobacco company's are using pressure cooking in their production of snus too but their apparatus is probably in a much larger size......
Myself am going to keep using the oven and perhaps a roasting bag.

 

[alopezg1]

I have been searching online and found sous vide machine for a reasonable price ... £80 around 90 euros i think .... very accurate and now need to buy seperate PID and crockpot ! here is a link: http://www.gilesandposner.com/giles-and-posner-sous-vide.html... and no I don't work for Giles and Posner!

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum, alopezg1. Feel free to start a thread in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Bob

 

[POGreen]

I ordered PA Oscuro Cigar Binder from Don last night and will make a serious attempt to make a goodtasting snus.

''The leaf is known for its sweetness similar to its sister leaf Connecticut Broadleaf. The leaf is thick and leathery with a spicy front note and a coffee background.Additional flavor notes PA Broadleaf is known for are cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate. ''

I think it sounds most exciting , will probably have it within a week ( I hope )

 

[AntipodeanNuuskaTrip]

Sorry for bringing back a dead thread but I'm just wondering if anyone ended up making snus with a pressure cooker and if they did, how did it turn out?

I'm thinking of giving it a go with a pressure cooker but not sure how long to cook it for. Maybe I'll ruin it and perhaps I ought to just use the standard slow cooker/crock pot to make a batch. I've only tried making snus once with some home grown with a little Virginia pipe blending tobacco thrown in. I didn't use a temp control and I think my last batch got a little hot and cooked it a bit too much. Still not a bad effort for a first attempt.

Not sure how hot the pressure cooker will get. I just bought one and haven't used it for anything yet. I'm a little worried that I'll burn the snus or something.

I'm going to use American Spirit rolling tobacco and Rustica snuff, 150g worth of tobacco flour. Whole leaf is not available in Australia (restricted import) and although I could use some of my home grown, I'm curious of the outcome of using readily available tobacco to make snus with. I realise that the harm reduction factor will be thrown out the window using processed tobacco but it still might come in handy in times of desperation.

Cheers,
ANT

 

[deluxestogie]

Not sure how hot the pressure cooker will get. I just bought one and haven't used it for anything yet. I'm a little worried that I'll burn the snus or something.

At 15 psi, a pressure cooker will hover at 121 degrees C, so long as water remains in the cooker.

Bob

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Pressure cookers in the U.S. are rated for 15 psi but in reality the pressure relief valve is set for about 13.5 ( at least the 2 I have are).
Several of us use a pressure cooker to make a Cavendish like tobacco from Flue cured. The pressure cooker gives the leaf a candy like taste. When I make snus/dip I use a crock pot and cook for 8 hours. I used to cook for 24 hrs, then 12 and finally settled upon 8 hrs. I've noticed no difference in the final product from 24 to 8 hrs.

 

[deluxestogie]

An article on pressure cookers (European vs US, electric vs stove-top).

http://www.hippressurecooking.com/pressure-cooker-psi-faq-the-stuff-you-didnt-think-to-ask/

Bob