perique making

[deluxestogie]

I would select oak, which is the wood used in making perique barrels in St. James Parish, Louisiana--traditional perique.
Beech may cause dermatitis.
Linden (Bass) is harmless and without aromas, but tends to rot when kept wet.
Apple, pear and cherry (sweet) are probably good choices, though the grain may be swirled.
Black cherry may cause an allergic reaction.

Bob

 

[Yug]

@ roman 1967: @ roman 1967 :Last year, when I started making my Perique in glass jars, it seemed to me that this did not correspond to the true method of fermenting tobacco in bourbon barrels. I was considering using a small wooden barrel for the following year. I then discovered on the web the photo I am attaching. From the moment I saw the plastic surrounding the tobacco, I realised that not all Perique is made with tobacco in contact with the wood of the barrel and this year I continued with my glass jar. All this should be taken with care, it is only the opinion of a beginner. It would be interesting to have Bob's opinion.

 

[deluxestogie]

I am certain that Louisiana perique has been made using the very same barrels for many years. I suspect that the wood became perique flavored a long time ago. I make perique in an acrylic container. The greatest determinants of my results seem to be:

• ambient temperature
• variety of tobacco
• duration of the pressure cure

It is worth noting that there is no "authentic" or "original" perique. All tobacco history (and "how it used to taste") is a snapshot of a moving vehicle. This is just as true of Louisiana perique as it is of Latakia or Havana cigars or Balkan Sobranie White or Rattray's Red Rapparee. None of them were ever unchanging. Tobacco is not a precision industry. Other than the mass-produced, machine made items (e.g. cigarettes), the industry is primarily artisanal.

Bob

 

[Yug]

Very glad to hear your reply Bob. I am confirmed in what I had deduced from my readings and my little experimentation.

 

[Yug]

Hello Bob. I have liked your post and I see for my like: "You" and not "Yug". I don't know how to correct this error.

 

[Knucklehead]

Hello Bob. I have liked your post and I see for my like: "You" and not "Yug". I don't know how to correct this error.

”You” is correct. It is not an error. When I view my own post that I have “liked”, the software displays the word ”You” in reference to “Me”.

 

[Yug]

”You” is correct. It is not an error. When I view my own post that I have “liked”, the software displays the word ”You” in reference to “Me”.

OK, I understand now. Sorry for the confusion. My brain was getting a bit stuck...

 

[Charly]

I think the paper/plastic sheet seen in the picture is put in the barrel just before the perique is put back in after the last «airing time».

 

[Yug]

I think the paper/plastic sheet seen in the picture is put in the barrel just before the perique is put back in after the last «airing time».

It's possible, I don't know. May be original Périque with wood of barrel only and others with plastic sheet because it is easier to conserve humidity? (the wood absorbs the juices)

 

[santiago]

I want to make wooden tubs for perik, which wood is better to use
I have oak, beech, linden, apple, pear, and cherry

i think oak is the best , it give you special flavour . u are lucky with .

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum, @santiago. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Bob

 

[Yug]

Hi! Today I found this video. I hope you will find it interesting.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV14JYNftEM

 

[Yug]

Hello to all. Last week I made perique again with virginia, burley and havana leaves moistened with spring water. The fermentation has started well, I like it.

 

[Damanadaplaya]

My attempt at perique, cross my fingers!

 

[Cray Squirrel]

View attachment 39645
My attempt at perique, cross my fingers!

Good looking basket of leaf. Set up looks awesome. I need a press similiar to yours to crush wine grapes. Keep us posted and tell us how you're doing it.
Very cool..

 

[Damanadaplaya]

Good looking basket of leaf. Set up looks awesome. I need a press similiar to yours to crush wine grapes. Keep us posted and tell us how you're doing it.
Very cool..

Thanks, I had to scrap the wax paper, but I feel better about my seal. Wax paper ripped up and I was afraid it would get caught up in the leaf.

 

[Damanadaplaya]

 

[Cray Squirrel]

Thanks, I had to scrap the wax paper, but I feel better about my seal. Wax paper ripped up and I was afraid it would get caught up in the leaf.

Any way to monitor heat and pressure or is this method more about changing conditions as needed by your insight or intuition?

 

[Oldfella]

View attachment 39645
My attempt at perique, cross my fingers!

I like the press. I may do something similar. My difference would be be, (infact I would suggest that you do the same). Make a plate on the bottom that is the same size, or slightly larger, than the Perique container. This I feel would give you a more even pressure over the whole area. At the moment pressure is greater along the center and falling away towards the outer two edges. This may or may not affect the finished product.
Oldfella

 

[Damanadaplaya]

I feel it is even pressure, those are two 2x6 half moons. My biggest problem is getting the “lid” out of the pot. I have two holes drilled at an angle (not all the way) in each half moon so I can stick a large nail in the hole to pry the half lid off. It’s under a lot of pressure. I don’t have a way to monitor heat, etc. I sprayed the de-stemmed leaves with what amounted to about a cup and half of distilled water. This is more off a trial by error, hope I get lucky, experiment!