China Voodoo's Carotte Method

[BCgoatfarmer]

I think the canvas was tarred. Alternatively it could have been sealed with linseed oil, like an old canvas rain coat.

I doubt the sailors would've seen anything wrong with the close proximity of tar or flax oil to their tobacco. They would've been so used to tar in their enviroment already. Most of the external rigging rope/line on the ship was tarred.

Just a guess

 

[deluxestogie]

Most of the external rigging rope/line on the ship was tarred.

Only the standing rigging. But during the age of sail, most working crew members (vs. officers) lived day to day with black hands, from the tar.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I noticed when I used canvas that it left canvas fuzz behind on the tobacco. Oiling it in some way would make a difference.

 

[BCgoatfarmer]

Okay so maybe just standing rigging and not the sheetlines, halyard lines, topping lifts, etc. Although I think some non standing rigging was tarred too from the contemporary accounts I've read. Certainly plenty of tar an those jacks in the fo'cassle either way. I've got a few 45 gallon drums of old Stockholm tar. Just got finished hot tarring the bottom of my tin skiff (leaks) can attest the smoke from that stuff ain't super pleasant in my delicate modern respiratory system.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

The tar in the pipe in my fire curing setup smells like latakia.. I've been meaning to collect it.

 

[BCgoatfarmer]

The tar in the pipe in my fire curing setup smells like latakia.. I've been meaning to collect it.

Collect it for what purpose? To make a tobacco seasoning?

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Collect it for what purpose? To make a tobacco seasoning?

The thought occurred to me. I think there's a lot of uses for that type of fluid. Glue, sealant, fire starter, torches. And maybe even water proofing canvas?

 

[BCgoatfarmer]

The thought occurred to me. I think there's a lot of uses for that type of fluid. Glue, sealant, fire starter, torches. And maybe even water proofing canvas?

I've had good results making varnish/shellac from fir sap cooked down to remove all turpentine until its glassy hard when cooled. Then it can be powdered, added to solvent (isopropyl 99%), left to settle, and decanted. It helps to add a very small amount of linseed or other "drying" oil. Otherwise it tends to bloom white when wet like hot wet cups on shellac surfaces.

I'm sure the tar from your smoker could be diluted in solvent and painted onto wood as a sealant or preservative.

 

[Havok]

The Dark Carotte
1/3 Dark Air Cured
1/3 Dark Fire Cured
1/6 Perique
1/6 Latakia
Wrapped for 3 months (and 2 days), resting on the counter overnight, and will be lightly stoved for 3 hours tomorrow. After that, it will rest in a jar for 2 weeks.

For a little extra pressure, I squeeze it in a clamp, tightening every so often (whenever I think about it).

 

[slouch]

In response to a relatively common concern:

View: https://youtu.be/EgWb6ZvqE90?si=CVpByWf7WCoGeOBr
If you want it to ferment, you'll want it to be more moist than what I have in the video.

This is super sick I’m definitely gonna try this and compare it to a kiln.

 

[Ellis003]

In response to a relatively common concern:

View: https://youtu.be/EgWb6ZvqE90?si=CVpByWf7WCoGeOBr
If you want it to ferment, you'll want it to be more moist than what I have in the video.

How long would you leave it to ferment? And could you leave it wrapped up untill your need it or do you need to keep airing it?

 

[Havok]

Not responding on behalf of CV, but in lieu of:

Minimum I would leave it is 1 month. 3 months is what I aim for now days. If I was more patient I would try 6-12 months.

When I unwrap it, I only let it dry out overnight, but depending on your climate you may let it air out longer (my kitchen averages about 20-25% humidity).

After that I put it in a jar and slice off coins with cigar snips (or meat cleaver depending on the size) when I want to use it.

It’s still fairly moist so it’s still fermenting/aging in the jar -If you’re not happy with it right away, leave it jarred up for couple months (preferably some place warm) and come back to it. It will keep changing over time and eventually become something you can’t keep yourself out of.

 

[jt196]

Hey @ChinaVoodoo, I saw this here a month or two ago and thought this might be a nice low effort way to age some recently dried and cured leaves. I'm going super low effort as I'm not a smoker, it was just a fun project to do. The leaves are dry, so I guess I want to spray them and leave them for 3-6 months in the carottes?

Unfortunately the video has been made private, I'd imagine that this may be due to YouTube restrictions, any ideas how I can view the video to be able to watch it?

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum @jt196. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. You may wish to scan through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads.

Bob

 

[Chinese explorer]

I have watched your video. It is a great idea and you are very experienced. I would like to ask you a question. Do you know the method of fermenting tobacco leaves with Bacillus?

 

[jt196]

Welcome to the forum @jt196. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. You may wish to scan through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads.

Bob

Thanks dude, I have a vague memory of how it was done, I think: spray (they haven't fermented), layer, roll tightly, wrap in plastic, roll tightly again, then tape nice and tight. I've got some cord I can tighten them up with as well... Let's see!

 

[E. Joseph]

The video is now set to private. Is there any way to still watch?

 

[ProZachJ]

Hard to self film or I'd reproduce it (takes both hands) The short story is to place the tobacco in a small plastic bag (like a ziplock with the closure part cut off). Wrap it into a cigar shape and then use reinforced tape to wrap it up as tight as you can by rolling the "cigar" in one hand while pulling the tape roll tight with the other. Very simple process. Here's the tape and a finished one and as best I can do to show the wrapping method with one hand. This hand is creating tension while the other is rolling it towards me. If you are getting it tight enough the diameter of your "cigar" will reduce by half or more.