I wrote a number of prominent blenders when I started bending asking for advice and thoughts on things. It's strange that the things that literally all of the ones who responded told me are normal practice in the professional pipe tobacco blending world are "ridiculous" or "silly" on the forums. I don't know. I guess the forums just have much better blenders than the major manufacturing companies.
I didn’t think it ridiculous or silly. I know that commercially they use lots of casings and such. But, I don’t have the reasons they do.
I don’t find my straight Virginias nearly as bitey as the commercial Virginias.
Having burned sugars in chemistry class, cane sugar, honey, etc… I didn’t find it appealing for me. But, for your own blends, do what you want.
I okayed around with apple juice, honey, citric and mallic acids…. then I just gave it a year to age without anything, and came to appreciate the more subtle nuances of uncased. YMMv
When I got into growing and curing, I called and talked to many different farmers, manufacturers, and a couple of blenders… and I still have a whole shelf of books to develop my own Best Practices for me.
I wouldn’t tell you how to do what you obviously enjoy. However, I might just suggest that there are other ways. That’s all.
It’s pretty awesome to smoke your own. And, I applaud you!!
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