Double Bright Leaf. How is that done?

[Paul]

I noticed in the store that one of the tobaccos listed is "Flue Cured Virginia Double Bright Leaf".
The description says "This leaf is the same as Bright Leaf, but processed differently. It’s known as Virginia Double Bright Leaf because of the darker color it achieves in the curing process. This tobacco is cured twice to achieve a color and flavor closer to Red Leaf. Double Bright Leaf has a stronger flavor than Bright Leaf and can be for an excellent everyday tobacco. "

Does anyone know what the "Double Curing" process involves? If it can strengthen the flavor of my flue cured tobacco I'd like to try it.

 

[deluxestogie]

I have taken commercial Lemon Virginia, and kilned it for a month at 128°F, with high humidity. It became somewhat redder and more rounded in flavor, while losing some of its sweetness and tongue bite (when used for pipe blending). So I would say that its flavor is enhanced for my use.

Flue-curing takes the leaf up to ~165°F, which destroys the primary oxidizing (aging) enzyme, oxidase. But a much slower-acting oxidizing enzyme, peroxidase, remains active up to ~191°F. So after flue-curing, tobacco is capable of gradual aging--a process that is accelerated by the warmer temperature of the kiln.

I don't know the particular process used for the Double Bright leaf that WLT is offering, but having sampled it, I can say that its character resembles that of flue-cured bright leaf that has been subsequently kilned.

Bob

 

[burge]

Canadians generally love that sweet taste. The older red just needed a pinch of tobacco in the accent the lemon and for me acted like a bitter and enhanced the flavour of the lemon.

 

[Paul]

Is there someone on the forum who is connected with Whole Leaf Tobacco who could comment? Perhaps they could explain the specifics of the "cured twice" process?

 

[FmGrowit]

I think Bob's explanation is the closest you're going to get without going into the science of Flue curing.

 

[Petzi]

I share my experiment here.

Last year, I flue-cured 4 plants of Virginia tobacco. Part was rolled and stored in a jar. I stored this jar under a roof. For a long time this summer during the day, the temperature has risen above 40 ° Celsius. The moisture of my rolled tobacco was quite high. The small ribs are flexible.

The picture below shows on the left my rolled tobacco of the past year and on the right the one that came out of the flue-cure chamber two weeks ago.



I took out some leaves of rolled tobacco.



Compared the two, I will say for the tobacco of one year: it has the smell of the honey, more round, more deep. To taste on the tongue, less acid, less sweet. The smoke is more intense.

I do not know if we can call it "Double Bright", but for tobacco mix for the pipe or cigarette, it fits perfectly.

Petzi

 

[Paul]

Thanks - I love the ideas and speculation. However, I really thought the people selling it would be able to explain what it was - otherwise, why sell it?

 

[GreenDragon]

Thanks - I love the ideas and speculation. However, I really thought the people selling it would be able to explain what it was - otherwise, why sell it?

Sellers are not manufacturers. They have to go with the descriptions provided to them. Many of the intricacies of tobacco processing are closely guarded secrets and are purposely described in vague terms (stoved, double fermented, etc).

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

why sell it?

Because it tastes good.

 

[FmGrowit]

Because it tastes good.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Paul]

OK I get the idea. Thanks for the answers. Seems like "double cured" means flue cured followed by kilning. I will give it a try. I've had a lot of success this year flue curing, apart from my latest batch. During yellowing, I had a look at the leaf, then left the temperature probe outside the kiln for 6 hours.... so the temp got much too hot. Remains to be seen if the result will be usable.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

OK I get the idea. Thanks for the answers. Seems like "double cured" means flue cured followed by kilning. I will give it a try. I've had a lot of success this year flue curing, apart from my latest batch. During yellowing, I had a look at the leaf, then left the temperature probe outside the kiln for 6 hours.... so the temp got much too hot. Remains to be seen if the result will be usable.

Oh, it'll be usable. Consider that when I make black cavendish, I'm running it at 240°F for 4 hours.

Murphy's law is that it'll be so good that you'll try to duplicate it.

 

[Alpine]

Usually without success

 

[deluxestogie]

If the temp goes too high before the leaf has yellowed, then you may end up with a batch of candela.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

If the temp goes too high before the leaf has yellowed, then you may end up with a batch of candela.

Bob

My reading skills aren't too good. I thought this was his kiln, not curing chamber.

 

[Paul]

It was my "cozy can". So far only used for Flue curing, but once that is done for the year will become a kiln