At what °c or °f do you dry your tobacco to make it into powder?
- Thread starter whotan
- Start date
And I have another question! Does anyone know at what temperature nicotine vaporizes? This is the first time I've dried a large amount and I thought that it might not be so safe? If I dry 1kg of tobacco in the oven and the nicotine is released if the temperature is too high?! And the tobacco is dry! Or can I dry the tobacco quickly at 80c without any problems?
In previous attempts I dried the tobacco for snus for a long time at 45c (slowly)! Because I was afraid that the tobacco would lose its aroma! Now I've read that many people simply prepare (dry) the tobacco for snus in the oven beforehand. Does that make a difference or does it not matter? Of course it goes much faster if I dry the tobacco in the oven at 80c, for example!
It is difficult to locate the existing, objective science about nicotine as a chemical (e.g. physical properties), because of the flood of "information" on vaping and health effects, etc.
The best I can determine: Nicotine's melting point (and vaporization point) is 247°C (~477°F). Depending on the chemical form of the nicotine, it may begin to evaporate at a temp as low as 148°C (298°F).
Bob
You can search here:
scholar.google.com
The best I can determine: Nicotine's melting point (and vaporization point) is 247°C (~477°F). Depending on the chemical form of the nicotine, it may begin to evaporate at a temp as low as 148°C (298°F).
Bob
You can search here:
Google Scholar
wruk53
Well-Known Member
I don't heat mine at all. The humidity in my home is typically about 50% and after just a few days inside, the leaf will be bone dry if unpacked and loose in a paper bag or cardboard box. If you don't have a low humidity area available and choose to dry in the oven, I would use the lowest temperature possible to avoid scorching. The lowest setting on my oven is 170f.
I think I'll do it partially! I'll dry part in the oven at 120F (50C) and another part at 176f 80C and a 3rd part in the air!
II'll let you know if there's a big difference in taste! Thank you very much, you guys are great!
II'll let you know if there's a big difference in taste! Thank you very much, you guys are great!
HappyHawaiian
Well-Known Member
I know it's been months since you asked, but just in case anyone else is interested. I do what Wruk does, thanks Wruk. We have the same humidity, I have a portable humidity sensor. I buy about 5 or 6 pounds of leaves at a time. I derib them all, then put the leaves in paper grocery bags or Amazon boxes. Whatever I have lying around. After a few days I'll grind some of the leaves in my blender. The rest I'll leave for a few weeks or until I get the energy to finish blending the rest. They don't get as dry as in the oven, and some leaves might still be slightly soft, but doesn't seem to matter. When grinding in my blender I notice it gets hot and releases some steam, so whatever residual moisture is in there is gone after blending. I still have 3 pounds of leaves I need to grind up, but don't have the energy or motivation yet.
Air drying in bags and boxes is so much easier than the oven. No need to dig out a bunch of pans, cookie sheets, or oven safe containers to put the leaves in. Then of course there's the washing of the pans after. I always have grocery bags or Amazon boxes, I just toss them when I'm done, I'll eventually get more when I shop.
Air drying in bags and boxes is so much easier than the oven. No need to dig out a bunch of pans, cookie sheets, or oven safe containers to put the leaves in. Then of course there's the washing of the pans after. I always have grocery bags or Amazon boxes, I just toss them when I'm done, I'll eventually get more when I shop.
HappyHawaiian
Well-Known Member
Wow, that's the first time I've ever seen Google Scholar recommended outside of college. Not many people know about it. That used to be my go to for research papers, especially since Wikipedia isn't allowed in college.
I just use parchment paper
I strip the midrib, then let them sit under a ceiling fan overnight.
If it's not crunchy yet, I preheat the oven to F170, put the leaves in, then turn off the oven (leave the oven light on), and leave them go for a while.
HappyHawaiian
Well-Known Member
I just ground up 4 pounds of de ribbed leaves that was sitting in a paper bag and a box for the last 3 weeks or so. Definitely not crunchy. They were fairly dry but still pliable for the most part. After grinding in the blender they released steam. Thing is the ground tobacco flour looks pretty dry to me, I'm thinking the heat from blending dries them the rest of the way. Not sure how important getting them bone dry is. I guess if they mold, then I'll know. I dried leaves in the oven once, I'm just too lazy to do it that way again. I'm pretty lazy. If my flour molds then I'm definitely doing the oven thing, we shall see.I just use parchment paper
I strip the midrib, then let them sit under a ceiling fan overnight.
If it's not crunchy yet, I preheat the oven to F170, put the leaves in, then turn off the oven (leave the oven light on), and leave them go for a while.
I imagine we just dry them get proper measurements for the other ingredients, make sieving easier, and save wear and tear on the blender.
After it's ground, in storage, it will normalize at the ambient humidity over time anyway (unless you vacuum seal or something approximate).
I wouldn't worry too much if you didn't burn out your machine or end up with paste.
After it's ground, in storage, it will normalize at the ambient humidity over time anyway (unless you vacuum seal or something approximate).
I wouldn't worry too much if you didn't burn out your machine or end up with paste.
HappyHawaiian
Well-Known Member
Ahh, i didn't think about the blender, that's a good point. Yeah, it does seem harder to blend when it's not bone dry. The other day I pulled the pitcher off before the motor had stopped and after that it didn't sound quite right. Still works but sounds a little off. I might have slightly bent or misaligned something that spins. Or maybe it's just my imagination. It's a new blender with a 1 year warranty. Hopefully, if it's going to break, it breaks before the year is up.
