Prilep Advice: @Brennus

[Brennus]

I am fairly new to growing tobacco and for the last three years have grown rustica varieties as I am primarily interested in the nicotine. This year I added an oriental, Prilep, to my garden beds, in order to introduce a bit of pleasure to the administration (via briar pipe) of said nicotine. It sun cures readily to golden brown, both on the stalk and in bunches of leaves, but tastes and smells like hay or old socks when smoked. I have attempted to ferment it (e.g. shredded in a mason jar in the greenhouse) but have not achieved anything like the glorious aroma that this variety is reputed to have, even immediately after curing. We’ve had a good warm summer in the UK so I can’t blame the weather.

Should the fermentation be aerobic or anaerobic? Is ageing the answer? Any other advice? (Polite)

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Read the New Growers' FAQ. You may wish to scan through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads. Both are linked in the menu bar.

Prilep varieties are usually quite tasty soon after they have been sun-cured. They can also be successfully flue-cured. Fermentation should always be aerobic, unless you are attempting to make pressure-cured perique.

Ideal conditions for kilning leaf are 123°-128°F in high humidity for 6 to 8 weeks. If the temp rises to 149°F, even briefly, then the leaf's primary oxidizing enzyme (aging enzyme) is denatured, and gone forever.

Plan B is to set it aside in low case and ambient temperature, and allow it to naturally age for at least a few months.

Bob

 

[Brennus]

Welcome to the forum. Read the New Growers' FAQ. You may wish to scan through the topics in our Index of Key Forum Threads. Both are linked in the menu bar.

Prilep varieties are usually quite tasty soon after they have been sun-cured. They can also be successfully flue-cured. Fermentation should always be aerobic, unless you are attempting to make pressure-cured perique.

Ideal conditions for kilning leaf are 123°-128°F in high humidity for 6 to 8 weeks. If the temp rises to 149°F, even briefly, then the leaf's primary oxidizing enzyme (aging enzyme) is denatured, and gone forever.

Plan B is to set it aside in low case and ambient temperature, and allow it to naturally age for at least a few months.

Bob

Thanks. Maybe I overheated it. Plenty left to work on thankfully.