izzi
Member
hi guys, I have been running into some issues with the moisture levels all the way from removing stems to making the actual cigarettes (as well as keeping them at optimal moisture) and would like to share some of my findings and ask what you think and also if you have some input.
The first challenge I found was with removing stems, particularly with Virginia Orange leaves because they are dry as hell. When I got the second batch of these it was mostly tobacco dust in the bag. The leaves were so utterly dry that peeling them made it worst, not to mention grinding them. I recently got my 3rd batch and I'm now moistening them before I peel them.
The second challenge was the grinding. This usually goes ok unless the peeled leaves get too dry, in which case of course I get dust.
The third step is making the ciggies. Too moisty and the machine gets stuck, too dry and your throat hurts when you smoke them.
I do have a moisture meter and found the following:
1. To remove the stems at least a humidity of at least 17% is nice and makes removing the stems easy.
2. When grinding the leaves a humidity of at least 14 or 15% seems fairly optimal.
3. When making cigarettes the humidity must not me higher than 14%, around 11 or 12% is probably at its best.
4. Keeping the cigarettes with a humidity of about 10% seems to be the nicest to smoke.
It is challenging trying to keep moisture levels at all these stages so I wonder if you guys have any tips on that, and also on the moisture levels.
Cheers!
PS: I found out that for instance placing a wet cleaning cloth in a tupper in a sealed bag with the leaves makes and keeps them moist, but sometimes too moist if doing it for long, plus the cloth can get moldy. About keeping the already made ciggies moist I found a "moisture bag" that is supposed to keep the humidity in the tupper at 69% and it seems to work fairly ok (last I tried ciggies went from 7% to 9.5% moisture within 24h)
Pic of the moisture bag
The first challenge I found was with removing stems, particularly with Virginia Orange leaves because they are dry as hell. When I got the second batch of these it was mostly tobacco dust in the bag. The leaves were so utterly dry that peeling them made it worst, not to mention grinding them. I recently got my 3rd batch and I'm now moistening them before I peel them.
The second challenge was the grinding. This usually goes ok unless the peeled leaves get too dry, in which case of course I get dust.
The third step is making the ciggies. Too moisty and the machine gets stuck, too dry and your throat hurts when you smoke them.
I do have a moisture meter and found the following:
1. To remove the stems at least a humidity of at least 17% is nice and makes removing the stems easy.
2. When grinding the leaves a humidity of at least 14 or 15% seems fairly optimal.
3. When making cigarettes the humidity must not me higher than 14%, around 11 or 12% is probably at its best.
4. Keeping the cigarettes with a humidity of about 10% seems to be the nicest to smoke.
It is challenging trying to keep moisture levels at all these stages so I wonder if you guys have any tips on that, and also on the moisture levels.
Cheers!
PS: I found out that for instance placing a wet cleaning cloth in a tupper in a sealed bag with the leaves makes and keeps them moist, but sometimes too moist if doing it for long, plus the cloth can get moldy. About keeping the already made ciggies moist I found a "moisture bag" that is supposed to keep the humidity in the tupper at 69% and it seems to work fairly ok (last I tried ciggies went from 7% to 9.5% moisture within 24h)
Pic of the moisture bag
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