Casings

[briarfoxx]

Wow! thanks for the intel on that. I had no idea. I just learned from making tomato sauce with several native Italians that honey can help with overly acidic tomatoes from the garden. Figured the same might work in my blends.

You’re welcome! Interesting, I wonder what it is in the honey that helps counteract the acidity. It certainly adds something nice to the flavor as well. I like to use honey in my homemade popsicles.

 

[briarfoxx]

I just looked up the pH level of honey out of curiosity. I found a couple different ranges, but they were all acidic with an average pH level of 3.9. Apparently this acidity is part of the reason for honey’s anti-microbial properties. Perhaps the offset for acidic tomatoes is more a flavor thing than a pH balance thing (like maybe matching the acid level helps it taste better).

 

[proteus]

I just looked up the pH level of honey out of curiosity. I found a couple different ranges, but they were all acidic with an average pH level of 3.9. Apparently this acidity is part of the reason for honey’s anti-microbial properties. Perhaps the offset for acidic tomatoes is more a flavor thing than a pH balance thing (like maybe matching the acid level helps it taste better).

I think with honey its a taste buds thing not a pH thing. Like lemonade. The sugar added to it doesn't have the capacity to change pH chemically. But it makes your taste buds think its not acidic. Like sweet overrides your sour.

 

[pipingfool]

Here is the casing that I used on my Va/Per blend:

Aged/Dark (not Spiced) Rum - 4 fluid oz
Honey - 2 oz (weight)
Cocoa Powder - 1/2 tsp

I mix all of this up in a small spray bottle and just mist the finished blend until just tacky.

Then I press the blend for a couple of days and then apply gentle heat in the oven for about 30-45 mins.

 

[yanoJL]

There was an article written by Russ Ouellette in which he attempted to dispel a few pipe/tobacco myths. One such myth was about tongue "bite" vs tongue "burn". In the article, he claims that pipe tobacco (specifically Burkey) is alkaline, and that alkalinity can result in tongue bite.
So, the addition of acidic compounds (honey, vinegar) also serve to balance out the pH of the blend, making it more neutral, and subsequently, more comfortable to smoke.

I've linked the article below.

Common Misconceptions Redux

By Russ Ouellette A while ago, I wrote a column about myths, urban legends and misconceptions tied to pipe smoking. [Common Misconceptions About Pipe Tobacco, June 20, 2010] I mentioned […]

pipesmagazine.com

 

[briarfoxx]

There was an article written by Russ Ouellette in which he attempted to dispel a few pipe/tobacco myths. One such myth was about tongue "bite" vs tongue "burn". In the article, he claims that pipe tobacco (specifically Burkey) is alkaline, and that alkalinity can result in tongue bite.
So, the addition of acidic compounds (honey, vinegar) also serve to balance out the pH of the blend, making it more neutral, and subsequently, more comfortable to smoke.

I've linked the article below.

Common Misconceptions Redux

By Russ Ouellette A while ago, I wrote a column about myths, urban legends and misconceptions tied to pipe smoking. [Common Misconceptions About Pipe Tobacco, June 20, 2010] I mentioned […]

pipesmagazine.com

Very interesting! I’d read this article before but forgot about it and didn’t make the connection to this conversation topic. You make a very good point.

 

[yanoJL]

Very interesting! I’d read this article before but forgot about it and didn’t make the connection to this conversation topic. You make a very good point.

I have, however, seen some conflicting information. The NIH published a study re: tobacco nicotine content and pH levels. Their conclusions showed that the tobacco tested registered as acidic. However, they did not include pipe tobacco, but rather cigarettes and "pipe tobacco cigars" which were the most acidic at pH 5.05

The mean pH for cigarettes was pH 5.46. Large cigars had the highest mean pH value (pH 6.10) and pipe tobacco cigars had the lowest (pH 5.05).

Surveillance of Nicotine and pH in Cigarette and Cigar Filler - PubMed

Although cigarettes are the most common combustible tobacco product used worldwide, cigar use remains popular. Our research provides a means to investigate the possibility of distinguishing the 2 tobacco product types and offers information on nicotine and pH across a wide range of cigarette and...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[yanoJL]

One final thought on the matter of pH.

I'm too "new" to pipe smoking to have had an opportunity to enjoy McClelland blends. But I've often heard people describe the tin note as "Ketchup like"

As ketchup is largely tomato (acidic), vinegar (acidic) and salt, I suspect the McNiels may have used acidic compounds (red/wine vinegar? ) to mitigate alkalinity and neutralize the pH of their blends.

 

[Ahi Ka]

One final thought on the matter of pH.

I'm too "new" to pipe smoking to have had an opportunity to enjoy McClelland blends. But I've often heard people describe the tin note as "Ketchup like"

As ketchup is largely tomato (acidic), vinegar (acidic) and salt, I suspect the McNiels may have used acidic compounds (red/wine vinegar? ) to mitigate alkalinity and neutralize the pH of their blends.

I haven’t smoked enough McClellands to comment on their processing, but I will say that vinegar notes can come from the leaf itself in certain bright varieties.