Twist chewing tobacco

[Spike_Indiana]

I live in Indiana, my family is originally from Kentucky and unfortunately the old timers are all gone. I’m trying to find out what tobacco leaves I need to make a sweet twist. I believe I will sweeten them with black strap molasses, apple syrup and possibly brandy. Can anyone offer advice on best strands of leaf? I’m assuming dark air cured and burley but I’m new and would appreciate all the advice I can get. Thanks for your help in advance.
Spike in Indiana

 

[GIL]

Welcome to FTT!

 

[Spike_Indiana]

Welcome to FTT!

Thank you happy to be here

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. There is some info on twists in the Smokeless section of the WLT Wiki (link in the menu bar). There is some info on casings here:

Info On casing

Just a little filler for you all that are playing with casing. There are two types of "sugars" used for casing. These are Reducing Sugars and Non Reducing Sugars. Reducing Sugars: These include glucose, fructose and invert sugar. These are considered more chemically reactive than non...

fairtradetobacco.com

I would suggest starting with just burley for a twist. If you find you need to kick up the nicotine, then add a small portion of dark air-cured to the next batch. Be aware of sufficient drying to prevent mold, or adding propylene glycol to inhibit mold while keeping it squishy.

Bob

 

[Spike_Indiana]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. There is some info on twists in the Smokeless section of the WLT Wiki (link in the menu bar). There is some info on casings here:

Info On casing

Just a little filler for you all that are playing with casing. There are two types of "sugars" used for casing. These are Reducing Sugars and Non Reducing Sugars. Reducing Sugars: These include glucose, fructose and invert sugar. These are considered more chemically reactive than non...

fairtradetobacco.com

I would suggest starting with just burley for a twist. If you find you need to kick up the nicotine, then add a small portion of dark air-cured to the next batch. Be aware of sufficient drying to prevent mold, or adding propylene glycol to inhibit mold while keeping it squishy.

Bob

What percentage of PG? Is there an organic substitute? I know it’s safe just do t like the idea of adding anti-freeze to my chew. Lol

 

[deluxestogie]

Automotive antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which is poisonous. Propylene glycol (PG) is found in many, many processed foods, and most commercial tobacco products. USDA certified organic alternative would be non-chlorinated water.

Bob

 

[Amberbeth84]

Welcome from a fellow Hoosier!

 

[Spike_Indiana]

I’m

Automotive antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which is poisonous. Propylene glycol (PG) is found in many, many processed foods, and most commercial tobacco products. USDA certified organic alternative would be non-chlorinated water.

Bob

It’s also used as an industrial anti-freeze not automotive. I’m an industrial maintenance technician and am very familiar with PG. We use it as an antifreeze combined with only water in our plant process/chiller water. I know it’s safe it’s also in e-liquid I had an e-liquid/CBD business for awhile. I’m educated I was just wondering if they’re were any less toxic ideas for moisture retention because although the WHO says it’s safe it’s still toxic in high levels which means it’s not great. I will use it verses loosing moisture. Is vegetable glycerin a good alternative ? Maybe fast freeze to kill bacteria? Or an organic acid? Still looking for more tobacco suggestions as well I will start with burley and dark air cured. Is there a palatable wrapper I could add that chews well?? Look forward to constructive criticism!

 

[Spike_Indiana]

Welcome from a fellow Hoosier!

Thank you!

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Alternatives to try for humectant that I've heard of are glycerin and olive oil. Olive oil is used on some of the English ropes.

Glycerin tastes sweeter than pg when smoked. I think it operates under the principle of replacing the total water content.

An idea that one might think of is alcohol, but while I'm not a doctor, it's my understanding that combining alcohol and tobacco increases risk of oral cancer.

Regarding preservative methods that don't use humectant? My book on fermenting sausage says you need two of the following things for bacteria to grow and it kinda makes sense for chew and mold : water, temperature, and appropriate pH. So with chew if you don't use humectant but still keep it moist, it's gotta be cold or acidic. You aren't going to want it acidic because then it'll have no kick. That leaves you with keeping it in the fridge or freezer.

Oh, you can also sterilize it in a pressure cooker, but that only works if you don't open it.

 

[Spike_Indiana]

Alternatives to try for humectant that I've heard of are glycerin and olive oil. Olive oil is used on some of the English ropes.

Glycerin tastes sweeter than pg when smoked. I think it operates under the principle of replacing the total water content.

An idea that one might think of is alcohol, but while I'm not a doctor, it's my understanding that combining alcohol and tobacco increases risk of oral cancer.

Regarding preservative methods that don't use humectant? My book on fermenting sausage says you need two of the following things for bacteria to grow and it kinda makes sense for chew and mold : water, temperature, and appropriate pH. So with chew if you don't use humectant but still keep it moist, it's gotta be cold or acidic. You aren't going to want it acidic because then it'll have no kick. That leaves you with keeping it in the fridge or freezer.

Oh, you can also sterilize it in a pressure cooker, but that only works if you don't open it.

Good info thanks, from my experience in e-liquid production VG is much safer. Although it is thicker and heavier. I will not be smoking this twist it will be for chewing only. Trying to get to a basic Appalachia sweet twist. The price of buying it here in Indiana is absolutely ridiculous. Hoping I can produce it myself at a lesser cost. Since I’ve started researching this, the idea of rolling cigars is also enticing even though I don’t smoke much. Chewing twist may develop my palate into wanting to add cigars! Thanks everyone loving this forum!

 

[Jbg]

I would use dark air for a twist, burley can be bitter when chewed (or dipped) , I might add some Virginia(or maryland) to lighten the nic if straight dark air is too stout for ya.

I think I might use 2/3 dark air 1/6 virginia 1/6 dark fire. Sauced with a molasses (sorghum), apple juice and pg mixture and twist.

 

[Jbg]

Here ya go...

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sfCgZC4eSJw

 

[deluxestogie]

Thanks for posting that. I've seen the video several times, but every time I look for it, I can't locate it. I've added a link to it in our Index of Key Forum Threads.

Bob

 

[Jbg]

A little too much talkie talkie but not bad...

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQKfl012mqo

 

[Jbg]

Pipe tobacco but a little different way to twist, could use small pieces with a wrapper instead of frog legged leaf.

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ7zwSRl8QU

 

[Spike_Indiana]

I would use dark air for a twist, burley can be bitter when chewed (or dipped) , I might add some Virginia(or maryland) to lighten the nic if straight dark air is too stout for ya.

I think I might use 2/3 dark air 1/6 virginia 1/6 dark fire. Sauced with a molasses (sorghum), apple juice and pg mixture and twist.

I think this seems to be the best from all the research and what I’ve experienced in twist. I don’t want much fire cured because of the Smokey taste over powering the tobacco and I want dark air for the nic. Just deciding exactly what to blend with dark air and how much. I’m pretty sure I’m going to use black strap and apple cider/syrup for flavor and either VG or PG for humectant. Unless I can find a more organic way. I’m assuming old timers used moonshine?

 

[Spike_Indiana]

Here ya go...

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sfCgZC4eSJw

Seen this several times also but I’m not sure that’s a chewing twist, it seems very plain. I’m not wanting super sweet or any bag chew. I am looking to enjoy a variety of flavors like you get from a good twist or cigar.

 

[Spike_Indiana]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum. There is some info on twists in the Smokeless section of the WLT Wiki (link in the menu bar). There is some info on casings here:

Info On casing

Just a little filler for you all that are playing with casing. There are two types of "sugars" used for casing. These are Reducing Sugars and Non Reducing Sugars. Reducing Sugars: These include glucose, fructose and invert sugar. These are considered more chemically reactive than non...

fairtradetobacco.com

I would suggest starting with just burley for a twist. If you find you need to kick up the nicotine, then add a small portion of dark air-cured to the next batch. Be aware of sufficient drying to prevent mold, or adding propylene glycol to inhibit mold while keeping it squishy.

Bob

what is a sufficient mix of PG/distilled water for casing? Can add molasses to this mix? Or should I dilute molasses with white lightning?

 

[Jbg]

Snus uses 3% pg by weight, thats somewhere to start. Molasses (I hope your talking good sorghum molasses, not that shit grandma sells in the grocery stores) will disolve in water(hot water) and shine will evaporate quicker than water, but the alcohol will act somewhat as a preservative before it evaporates.