Brown discoloration when curing?

[Bcoc123]

This is my first try at curing. I'm attempting air curing by hanging in the shop. This batch was whole stalk harvested. After about 19 hours I started noticing this discoloration on both green and yellow leaves. Is this normal?

Low humidity is a problem. I've turned a fan on to get some air circulation. Any advice on the discoloration and on techniques would be greatly appreciated.

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Read through the New Growers' FAQ, linked in the menu bar. You may wish to scan through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads, also linked in the menu bar. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

So far as I can tell from the photos, the splotchy brown is just the initial stages of normal color-curing. It typically starts off uneven, then gradually becomes a uniform brown.

Bob

 

[Bcoc123]

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. One more question, once cured are my burley leaves good to make chew out of or is there more to do? I've been reading through a bunch of threads and had no idea how much of a science curing tobacco is. I've got a gutter palet so just trying to make something usable and then improve from there. I attached a picture of what I think are cured leaves.

 

[deluxestogie]

Allow them to continue color-curing until they are uniformly brown, and the veins and central stems are brittle-dry. The give them an additional couple of weeks. Here in southwest Virginia, burley is pretty much color-cured by Thanksgiving.

Bob

 

[Bcoc123]

I'll do that. I'm in Eastern Washington in the desert. Humidities during the day are in the teens to single digits. I've had a real problem with the leaves turning brittle dry within a day or two. I've been misting them in the morning and then again in the evening to try and keep them slightly hydrated. Should the leaves be soft or is ok if they are gone dry while curing?

 

[deluxestogie]

Once a portion of a leaf dries completely, it is dead, and will no longer continue to color-cure.

Bob

 

[Bcoc123]

Are th3 leaves useless at the point they are brittle dry and only tan or will they just not taste very good?

 

[deluxestogie]

Photo?

 

[Bcoc123]

Mostly brown, the picture comes in lighter colored than they are but brittle dry.

 

[Knucklehead]

I'll do that. I'm in Eastern Washington in the desert. Humidities during the day are in the teens to single digits. I've had a real problem with the leaves turning brittle dry within a day or two. I've been misting them in the morning and then again in the evening to try and keep them slightly hydrated. Should the leaves be soft or is ok if they are gone dry while curing?

Where are you curing them? A smaller environment will be easier to manipulate. Perhaps drape some plastic sheeting around them and a bucket of water with a towel suspended out of the bucket.

 

[Bcoc123]

I've got them in my shop now but it's 40' x 25' and just can't keep the humidity up. I was thinking about building a small shed and insulating it to try and control the humidity better. I may use our 6x8 greenhouse once it cools down.

 

[The Haroo ln]

You will need to cover the greenhouse windows and roof as the leaves should be out of sunlight when curing

 

[Bcoc123]

Good to know I've got counters I can put them under to stay out of the light. It gets to about 140 in there on the warmer days. Is that to hot

 

[deluxestogie]

Is that to hot

I'm lost. Are you asking about color-curing or about kilning?

Bob

 

[Bcoc123]

Sorry I went off the wrong direction. What I'm wondering is, the last few pictures I posted, the leaves look partially air cured but are brittle dry. Are they good enough for bottom shelf chew or should I throw them out?

 

[deluxestogie]

One of our smokeless gurus will have to answer that.

Bob

 

[johnny108]

Sorry I went off the wrong direction. What I'm wondering is, the last few pictures I posted, the leaves look partially air cured but are brittle dry. Are they good enough for bottom shelf chew or should I throw them out?

They will work. Mist them with water, and put them in a bag overnight to hydrate them. This will let you scissor cut them to chew like texture, or let you kiln them.
If you prefer a powder, just leave them dry, and run them through a blender.
Either a long cook, or some kilning, will help the flavor.

 

[Bcoc123]

That's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks for answering all my random questions. I have a tendency to lose focus and lose track of my original intent. I'll mix up a batch and see how it goes.