Those Virginia's look to have cured quite nicely.
Looking at the earlier pictures, it looks like you air cured them rather then flue cure?
Looking at the earlier pictures, it looks like you air cured them rather then flue cure?
The 2015 Cosmic Crop
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Well, it was the same principal as flue. I was able to keep the shed between 125-145F with an electric radiator and a vent. True air curing would have had air moving around the stalks. So, I don't know what to call it.
I think what you have there is called a "Cosmic Cure" Air curing does not need any moving air, only if the conditions warrant it such as very high humidity. With flue curing you would maintain temps in the low to mid 90's until the leaf is yellow then slowly increase the temp to 135F and hold ( while removing as much moisture as possible). Then you would increase to 165 to dry the stems. You look like you did a cross between air and flue curing so... Cosmic Cure.
I did dry them in 90-95F before closing the doors. I've had much stuff going on that I didn't have a chance to build a flue, so I just did the easiest thing by dragging the radiator out to it and putting the greenhouse lift on the window to help regulate it.
I like Cosmic Cure though, but before I would rather make sure that it tastes as good as possible before using it for a process, ha ha.
But regardless, my house smells AWESOME!! even SWMBO agreed that it smells great.
But regardless, my house smells AWESOME!! even SWMBO agreed that it smells great.
And, after rolling a few feet, my hands are sticky and I feel a little like I've just smoked some Royal Yacht, ha ha. I am going to go get some surgery gloves.
:
Yesterday, I managed to get the whole batch steamed, de-stemmed, and I started twisting. But, they weren't staying tight, so I was thinking about what could make them sticky. In talking to Woodsroads, I considered a casing. Honey was mentioned. I know most of the commercial blends are cased, almost all of them. But, I wanted this to be as natural as possible, merely because I can. So, I filled a pot with water and added a dollop of honey. A very small ratio. Then I got the water to boiling and placed a colander upside down over the pot. Then I placed a layer over the colander to get slightly steamed with the honey water. Not too sticky to work with, but just enough to bind the leaf when rolled to keep it very tight. I just steamed the largest of the bright yellow Virginia Gold. The red Virginia, darker tips, burleys were just left semi-moist, but unravelled.
Then I laid out the leaf on a cutting board.
And spread out the larger light colored leaves for the wrapper, and got darker towards the center.
The outer wrapper is tightly wound and twisted. It gets so tight that you can feel the juices start to drip down the tube.
I have several straight Virginia twists, several with a sprinkle of latakia that Woods sent me, and a dozen (One for each month of the year) are VaPers with just a hint of perquie added to boost fermentation and fruit it up.
The smell is intoxicating in here.
It may look rag tag, well, it is, ha ha.
I will cram these into large jars and put the in a crock pot for a couple of weeks. I will open the jars almost every day to allow the ammonia to escape and let in fresh oxygen. I will continue to vent the jar periodically for a couple of years, and then when it starts to get a fermented smell, vinegary, I will seal them up to start the real aging process.
I admit that I am mostly winging it here. I've researched and read over the speculations of others who grow. So, this is all 30% research, 60% guessing, and 10% blind luck.
Anyways, these are my Lovers Twists. Cosmic Twist seems to already be used, ha ha. Anyways, It's Lovers Twists, because Virginia is for Lovers. :wink:
Then I laid out the leaf on a cutting board.
And spread out the larger light colored leaves for the wrapper, and got darker towards the center.
The outer wrapper is tightly wound and twisted. It gets so tight that you can feel the juices start to drip down the tube.
I have several straight Virginia twists, several with a sprinkle of latakia that Woods sent me, and a dozen (One for each month of the year) are VaPers with just a hint of perquie added to boost fermentation and fruit it up.
The smell is intoxicating in here.
It may look rag tag, well, it is, ha ha.
I will cram these into large jars and put the in a crock pot for a couple of weeks. I will open the jars almost every day to allow the ammonia to escape and let in fresh oxygen. I will continue to vent the jar periodically for a couple of years, and then when it starts to get a fermented smell, vinegary, I will seal them up to start the real aging process.
I admit that I am mostly winging it here. I've researched and read over the speculations of others who grow. So, this is all 30% research, 60% guessing, and 10% blind luck.
Anyways, these are my Lovers Twists. Cosmic Twist seems to already be used, ha ha. Anyways, It's Lovers Twists, because Virginia is for Lovers. :wink:
I am excited that every twist, and even between each slice off of the same twist will be variable in the mix. The tips will be more bright citrusy Virginia, and then the bolder darker Virginias towards the center, then maybe some perique, maybe not.
I could just go buy some commercial assembly line tobacco if I wanted consistency. This is more artisan, IMO.
This is what I love about pipes. There are so many ways to vary the flavors, from planting the seeds to how you pack and light the pipe, there are unlimited ways in which the experience may change.
I hope you like my story, and I will let you know when I fire up the first bowl.
I could just go buy some commercial assembly line tobacco if I wanted consistency. This is more artisan, IMO.
This is what I love about pipes. There are so many ways to vary the flavors, from planting the seeds to how you pack and light the pipe, there are unlimited ways in which the experience may change.
I hope you like my story, and I will let you know when I fire up the first bowl.
I just read through this thread, and in a word... AMAZING!!! Cosmic I am truly impressed! I wish I had the knowledge, ability, ingenuity, etc. to grow cure and twist my own tobacco. I can only imagine that your first smoke of the fruit of your efforts will be most satisfying indeed. I look forward to more details of this awesome endeavor, so please keep us posted. Good luck!
From seed to product, fantastic.
So when will I see "Lovers Twist" for sale at Smokingpipes.com?
So when will I see "Lovers Twist" for sale at Smokingpipes.com?
Actually, I'd get in big trouble if I sold any. But, I would be happy if more people gave it a go in their own gardens. It's really not that hard. Last year, the only challenge was the drought. I had to spend a week with family at a funeral, and the majority of the crop died. But, as long as you water it, and do what you're supposed to, it's very easy.
Your twist look fantastic! Thanks for letting us follow your crop from seed to finished product.
I also grow" I'm not trying to steal you're thunder but attached is my first year grow blog. http://fairtradetobacco.com/threads/5613-Joe-s-(laugh-at-the-new-guy-he-s-doing-it-wrong)-Grow
I'm interested how the rustic a turned out. I'm thinking of growing som old indian strains next year.
I'm interested how the rustic a turned out. I'm thinking of growing som old indian strains next year.
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