Really Easy Perique Press

[Jitterbugdude]

This has potential... http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/the-tobacco-press-that-you-already-own

edit: Just noticed this link was posted by woodsroad, one of our FTT members

 

[deluxestogie]

What a fun article and clever rig. My first thought was about the conical shape of the small glass jars, and the possibility of shattering the glass. A distinct advantage of the Lexan jar that began this thread is that it is cylindrical.

woodsroad gets my seal of approval for beautiful simplicity and functionality.

Bob

 

[forumdotabaco]

will the glass work as the wood ? wood breeds glass don't, isn't something like this better ? http://www.crazycrow.com/oak-water-barrels-and-kegs or this http://www.gharvestmachinery.com/18.html http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Qt-Enterp.../111224277845?pt=Folk_Art&hash=item19e57bcb55

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Any container will work but the idea is something that is simple and cheap to use. I think a sheet of cork under the jar would help prevent glass breakage.

 

[forumdotabaco]

hm, are you sure? you know Perique reminds me Oporto wine, they use wood barrels because they can breed, the wood expands, and also sucks some fluids, is not only about the structural properties.

 

[deluxestogie]

Try making some in glass, and some in wood. Let us know the comparison.

Bob

 

[forumdotabaco]

I don't have the tobaccos to do it, neither I'm a pipe smoker, but in my mind if I'm not wrong the wood barrels will lose fuilds from the bottom and glass don't and that can be enought to change the all process

 

[Jitterbugdude]

When Perique was first "invented" the only type of container available was a wooden one. The Perique process is anaerobic so anything you can do to stop air from entering would only help. From what I understand, the process today still uses wooden barrles but they are wax coated inside to make them more air tight.

 

[forumdotabaco]

I thought Perique was invented in 1800 my bad sorry, I do agree with you in the anaerobic fermentation process, but sometimes air tight doesn't mean 100% air tight it can be 97% for example and those 3% will make the difference, all wood barrels must be waxed or they leak even with wine that must be done, I will use one of 1000L to fertilize my plants and I will have to wax it.
But now help me to understand something, the fluids, do they all stay inside the barrel? or they will slowly leave the barrel from the bottom?

 

[deluxestogie]

Not only are all the fluids retained during the making of Perique, the retained fluids are essential for the process, and should be topped off if too much evaporates. Have you read the beginning of this thread?

Bob

 

[forumdotabaco]

ok, I did a long time ago, looks like i have to read it again.

 

[quo155]

This is a neat thread...and something useful if I want to try my hand at making my own. The next thing for me would be to study which tobacco to try this with. I love Perique!

 

[deluxestogie]

...which tobacco to try this with.

The variety definitely affects the final nicotine content, but seems to have only minimal impact on the flavor and aroma of the final Perique.

Bob

 

[oldbear]

This is an old thread, but I really need to comment.

The fence posts in the previous images have a green tinge. Usually this indicates cupric arsenate, which is quite dangerously toxic.

Please make sure you are using completely untreated wood in all of your curing processes!

Arsenic is not healthy, especially in tobacco smoke.

Oldbear

 

[deluxestogie]

The fence post used was untreated.

Bob

 

[JOE1977]

Will cigar rolling scraps work for perique? Or does the curing throw it off? SIAP.

 

[deluxestogie]

Will cigar rolling scraps work for perique? Or does the curing throw it off?

I don't know the answer to that. I suspect that fully aged (or kilned or pile fermented) leaf would have some effect. I've only tried this with leaf that had barely color-cured.

Once you set up a Perique press of some sort, and start a batch, it really requires very little attention. So the only thing risked would be some scraps. It might come out great. Might come out awful.

Bob

 

[DGBAMA]

I have been saving all my scraps to try this, hope it works out, when I have enough.

 

[oldbear]

I first experimented with a 1 lb bag of processed "pipe tobacco". I divided it into two equal batches. One batch was sprayed with 100 ml of distilled water, the other with 100 ml of distilled water with a perique sample mixed in and filtered. Both were packed into 1 pint jars and put under pressure for several weeks (these samples are now over 6 months old).

There was only minimal difference between samples. Both had a slight perique odor and a good nicotine kick.

This works better on unprocessed leaf, but will work on cured leaf also. It only costs about 8 oz, plus a jar and a C clamp (use at least an 6" C clamp, 8" or larger is much better).

Try it.

Commercial perique (from D&R) is probably simpler and more reliable.

Oldbear

 

[deluxestogie]

Interesting comparison. Thanks for posting that.

You may want to let them run for 2 or 3 months, in order to complete the process. Commercial anything is always simpler, not always better, and always costs more than making it yourself.

Bob