When is perique finished.

[Ellis003]

Hi Gang

A question on perique tobacco. How do you know when it's finished? This is mine from last season. I thought it would be darker and smell a little more fruitier. It smells quite nice but as it's cold here the process obviously takes a little longer. It's been in since probably September last year and taken out to air about 4 times.

Cheers
Rob

"Gentlemen you may smoke"

 

[deluxestogie]

The leaves appear surprisingly intact. How much pressure has been applied? The darkening depends on sufficient pressure to rupture the cells of the lamina, and release their contents into the submersion solution during pressing.

Bob

 

[Ellis003]

The leaves appear surprisingly intact. How much pressure has been applied? The darkening depends on sufficient pressure to rupture the cells of the lamina, and release their contents into the submersion solution during pressing.

Bob

Hi Bob. I've been layering the leaves in a glass jar and using a slightly smaller glass lid and a vice doing it up as much as Possible although I can't get the pressure round the edges. On my last airing I broke the glass lid so am now looking at getting some kind of cheese mold/press.

 

[Ellis003]

 

[deluxestogie]

That seems as though that should be sufficient pressure. Low temperatures may account for the slower progress. Another factor is that your random, ambient yeast may be different. I guess I would keep up the pressure fermentation through the warmer, summer months, and see how it changes. Retain all that good liquid in the jar, after each airing.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

Also use much less water - about 0.5 cm of water above the leaf surface. Otherwise you will be extracting flavor instead of concentrating it.

 

[Ellis003]

That seems as though that should be sufficient pressure. Low temperatures may account for the slower progress. Another factor is that your random, ambient yeast may be different. I guess I would keep up the pressure fermentation through the warmer, summer months, and see how it changes. Retain all that good liquid in the jar, after each airing.

Bob

Thanks mate. I had to bin the water on the 2nd time though as the water went moldy. Hopefully in the summer it will go ABIT faster

 

[Ellis003]

Also use much less water - about 0.5 cm of water above the leaf surface. Otherwise you will be extracting flavor instead of concentrating it.

Also use much less water - about 0.5 cm of water above the leaf surface. Otherwise you will be extracting flavor instead of concentrating it.

View attachment 55928

 

[Ellis003]

That makes sense lol. I'll drain ABIT out tonight.

 

[Ellis003]

Thanks for the help guys

 

[deluxestogie]

Just keep in mind that each time you discard the water, you are discarding the nicotine, which is what oxidizes to darken the leaf.

Bob