The Magic of Whole Leaf Tobacco

[Guyrox]

I wonder if the practice of casing their tobaccos has more to do with the company’s recurring mold problems. As for Peterson pipes, the quality seems to be coming back up, thanks to harping from activist Petegeeks.

In my opinion, their quality is down the drain and, since Laudisi, the quality is at its worst. And so is their customer service, from the last 2 times I was forced to deal with them.
As with C & D, all Laudisi has in mind is profit and damn the rest, the customer first of it.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Oddly enough, I fell into this thread looking for guidance on DIY casing/topping. I have found folks here talking about levels of case, putting rope tobaccos in water/olive oil alongside flavoring, and more, but solid process info is eluding me.

I want to make my Gawith Hoggarth Dark Birdseye taste like Condor. I also want to recreate the Kendal Dark Vanilla and Coconut Twist they used to export to the US (their current management seem to have forgot they ever made Kendal Dark Vanilla).

I do enjoy unflavored tobacco, and want to start making my own blends from whole leaf, but I still need to assemble some know-how and equipment. Commercial tobacco will continue to burn in pipes as long as it’s available, though. I’m unlikely to replicate some of the blends I enjoy.

Sometimes I find it easier to search this forum via google than the forum search function. Just add this to your google search, site:fairtradetobacco.com

GH blends always seem heavily processed and saturated to begin with, so adding may be a little tricky. Not to mention that just about all aromatics and flavored blends start with the very best trash tobacco. You deserve better and can do much better but there is a bit of a learning curve. Think of processing tobacco into a blend as gourmet cooking, its more than simply following a recipe. Experience is necessary so start with simple blends with minimal casing and work your way up to matching your favorite commercial blend.

 

[DaleB]

I will agree with most of what @ShiniKoroshi said. I would also share my experience, however. I’ve been trying different blends adopted or adapted from recipes I found here, using leaf from WLT in addition to my own Samsun and probably-poorly-cured VA. So far I’ve had one dud, one that’s OK but not really what I hoped for, and three really nice blends, as good as most of the commercial stuff I’ve tried. Not bad for - what? Maybe a month or two of casual experimenting? So it’s not necessary to reach the “gourmet chef” level of expertise and experience to get some really good results.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

It should be stated that while we are learning tobacco, added flavors and blending we are also learning our own taste and preference. Most people have a slightly distorted idea of their own taste until they really pay attention to it. Even the "dud" blends are a success because you learned something about yourself.

 

[DaleB]

It should be stated that while we are learning tobacco, added flavors and blending we are also learning our own taste and preference. Most people have a slightly distorted idea of their own taste until they really pay attention to it. Even the "dud" blends are a success because you learned something about yourself.

Exactly -- I don't mind mixing up a batch that I don't like, because it gives me an opportunity to think about what I don't like about it and why, and how I could improve it, and of course -- you can always add more and re-blend it into something better.

 

[KroBar]

Ended up smoking some 5 Brothers a few times this week, just because it was ready to go, stuffed my pipe, and out on a walk.
By the end of each bowl, I could taste the Humectants in there.
I like whatever it is cased / topped with, just adds a tiny bit of sweetness, but it's yuk by the bottom of the bowl, something I do not experience with Whole Leaf Burley.
Smoked a bowl of Golden Sliced today... Same thing, only more so.
kind of a shame, except it helps me appreciate the whole Leaf I've got, which doesn't leave any gunk at the bottom of the bowl, and doesn't require any resting period for the pipe to dry.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

We need a commercial "blend match" thread as a continuation of the works already presented. There are a few posts scattered here and there but I don't think its what the average piper is looking for. Building a running list of known good blend matches that anyone can make will go far in selling whole leaf. With the knowledge, talents and energetic people here it is very doable.

 

[Olmstead]

That, my friends, is NOT tobacco.

Respectfully disagreeing, it is indeed tobacco, and pipe tobacco has been cased with propylene glycol—or some type of glycerine—for the better part of fifty years. It stops the product from growing mold, and it holds in moisture and added flavorings. The amount of of "casing" (this word is confusing) used in various blends varies greatly, from a tiny amount to a lot.

It sounds as if you may be hyper-sensitive to glycols and glycerols in your tobacco. Hey, if you're cool with smoking totally plain tobacco, then go for it! There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, and it's probably better all-around.

I wonder if the Cornell & Diehl blending tobaccos are cased at all, do you know?

Yes, absolutely. They had some serious problems with mold over the years and they definitely put a casing on the tobacco. This is not some horrible chemical however. It is the same thing that's basically on every tobacco product made for smoking on the face of the earth, save for just a handful of blenders. For instance, I know Vincent Manil doesn't case his tobacco.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Respectfully disagreeing, it is indeed tobacco, and pipe tobacco has been cased with propylene glycol—or some type of glycerine—for the better part of fifty years. It stops the product from growing mold, and it holds in moisture and added flavorings. The amount of of "casing" (this word is confusing) used in various blends varies greatly, from a tiny amount to a lot.

It sounds as if you may be hyper-sensitive to glycols and glycerols in your tobacco. Hey, if you're cool with smoking totally plain tobacco, then go for it! There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, and it's probably better all-around.

Yes, absolutely. They had some serious problems with mold over the years and they definitely put a casing on the tobacco. This is not some horrible chemical however. It is the same thing that's basically on every tobacco product made for smoking on the face of the earth, save for just a handful of blenders. For instance, I know Vincent Manil doesn't case his tobacco.

Casing tobacco with flavorings and sugar is a centuries old practice and mold is not new either. Wet packaging and cheaper chemical flavorings are the reason glycerin and propylene glycol are necessary today. Tobacco manufacturers did this to themselves and it almost seems intentional.

PG is approved for food, not combustion, and yet the food industry knowingly exceed recommended amounts. Question is, how much is added to tobacco in order to prevent mold?

"With concentrations at or above 20%, both Ethylene and Propylene Glycol inhibit the growth and proliferation of most microbes and fungi. The reduced surface tension in the glycol solution interrupts the cell walls of the bacteria, resulting in an environment that will not support bacterial growth. At very low glycol concentrations, for example below 1%, both Ethylene and Propylene Glycol act as a nutrient for bacteria. At these concentrations, bacteria will biodegrade the Propylene Glycol causing rapid growth of bacterial contamination. At levels above 1 and below 20%, some bacteria can survive with limited growth, especially at moderate temperatures."
https://www.hydratechfluids.com/us/technical-blog/propylene-glycol/59

 

[deluxestogie]

Ethylene glycol is radiator fluid, and is toxic to ingest. It damages brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. If you use a glycol, don't confuse the two.

Bob

 

[DaleB]

It even more toxic than nicotine.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Ethylene glycol is radiator fluid, and is toxic to ingest. It damages brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. If you use a glycol, don't confuse the two.

Bob

Good point Bob. Thank you!

 

[burge]

Reading on the vanilla flavour Costco has real extract for cheap right now. I have a thought try mixing it with water and spray it on the leaves when dry. I think maybe that would work.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Reading on the vanilla flavour Costco has real extract for cheap right now. I have a thought try mixing it with water and spray it on the leaves when dry. I think maybe that would work.

Save your money. That stuff is awful and ends up fermenting in the bottle. Its impossible to get anything pure from a no-name brand, difficult at best from known brands.

Im once again trying licorice though everything Ive purchased thus far has ended up being fake or diluted. This time Ive ordered pure licorice from a respected brand in Italy.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Reading on the vanilla flavour Costco has real extract for cheap right now. I have a thought try mixing it with water and spray it on the leaves when dry. I think maybe that would work.

Vanilla extract from Lorann Oils is priced well and they have pure bean powder. Whole beans seem to be everywhere and also priced well. Soaking a bean or powder in some booze for a few days then spraying the tobacco would be my approach.

 

[burge]

Vanilla extract from Lorann Oils is priced well and they have pure bean powder. Whole beans seem to be everywhere and also priced well. Soaking a bean or powder in some booze for a few days then spraying the tobacco would be my approach.

The Costco Kirland is real vanilla extract. You don't need a lot. So that is the best way either or. The extract you don't use a lot

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

The Costco Kirland is real vanilla extract. You don't need a lot. So that is the best way either or. The extract you don't use a lot

C'mon man, live a little and tip that bottle. Mo flava, mo betta!

 

[burge]

C'mon man, live a little and tip that bottle. Mo flava, mo betta!

Lol tobacco inherits flavour. The trade war is something now that it's impossible to buy leaf. I have a lot at home and with this in Canada has led to the Native tobacco.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Lol tobacco inherits flavour.

I inherited stunning good looks and charming personality.

Don't suffer current events too much as they will prove to be more transient than permanent. I am expecting to see deregulation of the tobacco industry eventually. Fair trade in tobacco would be a boon for everyone except big tobacco.

 

[Knucklehead]

I inherited stunning good looks and charming personality.

Don't leave out humble.