FAILED: My Turkish Perique!

[Jitterbugdude]

This past July I put a batch of Bitlis leaves in my press with the intention of making "Turique Perigue". I just took the tobacco out of the press this past weekend and it was completely dry and moldy. That was a big disappointment! I've made 3 batches in the past and they all came out fine. I guess a failure when you are fermenting things is to be expected every once in awhile.

 

[FmGrowit]

Interesting idea. What do you think was the cause of the failure? I think it would be worth giving it another try.

 

[workhorse_01]

I've been thinking of trying Bafra this way. Is it a matter of keeping it topped off with water? Should I drill holes in my press?

 

[deluxestogie]

I have kept a scant layer of water along the margins of the press follower (replacing what evaporates). I'll open the press and see what I have in a few weeks.

Bob

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I'm not sure why this batch failed. I ferment a lot of things, particularly saurkraut. Every once in a blue moon I'll get a moldy jar of kraut while the rest of the jars are fine. I chalk it up to mother nature. The only thing I did different this time was that I used a screw press and fermented the leaf in my basement. My other attempts have been made in my garage using a 20 ton shop press. The real variable here would be the temp differential. The batch outside probably saw a consistent 20 degrees warmer temp.

Of note too: I usually spray my leaf with water before pressing. I do not add additional water so my leaf is fairly dry. Adding some extra water would probably have helped by sealing the leaf from the atmosphere.

 

[Boboro]

Will soakin backer in vodka help it ferment?

 

[LeftyRighty]

My understnding of 'perique' process - the press needs to be opened every few days to begin with, then every couple weeks thereafter. When opened, seperate the leaf (or at least work it a bit) then add moisture if needed, then back to the press. That's what I've done on the 3 bricks I've done - worked well.

Ya can't just press it and forget it. It will dry out.
I was surprised how much moisture seems to be lost. I even kept my small press in a zip-loc bag, and it seemed to lose moisture.

 

[Knucklehead]

Pretty sure water is needed to keep the fermintation going as it's a true fermentation like wine. The water also prevents mold. From the videos I've seen, they always have some water squeeze out around the top at all times.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I didn't go into great detail in my first post but yes I did the traditional method of taking the leaf out of the press every few days, then every few months. This time around though I did let it set for about 6 weeks unattended. I might try another batch with already fully cured Bitlis.

 

[Knucklehead]

I didn't go into great detail in my first post but yes I did the traditional method of taking the leaf out of the press every few days, then every few months. This time around though I did let it set for about 6 weeks unattended. I might try another batch with already fully cured Bitlis.

Was this last batch not fully cured? Green, partially cured?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

This last batch was done in the real traditional style of Perique making. I hung the stalks up and as the leaves turned brown I harvested them. This was about 1 week after I hung them up. Previously, on other batches I used fully cured (6 weeks or more) tobacco. No big deal though, I'll start another batch this weekend with fully cured leaf. I'll probably use Bitlis again or possible Bucak.

 

[workhorse_01]

Is it possible that some oil or grease was on the press? When I cold pack tomatoes if there is any grease or oil they go bad.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Is it possible that some oil or grease was on the press? When I cold pack tomatoes if there is any grease or oil they go bad.

No, this was the same metal box that I had used for Perique before and the follower board was the same piece of sassafras wood.

 

[workhorse_01]

Im going to roll a carrot with bacca and keep it submerged for a month, and see if I get that sweet citrus smell to come out in the final product.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

If you put a carrot in your carrot you just might...

 

[workhorse_01]

If you put a carrot in your carrot you just might...

It's to late to go back now! I made it like the old guy did on squeezy's blog. Once the carrot was made I put it in a Ziploc bag half full of water. Pictures tomorrow.

 

[Mad Oshea]

Please explain what this is guys??? I don't know ,or heard of this in all the years of tobacco ??? What I have been thought is Baccy by Gramps. Never tryed anything but regular. Please pm or put in . Like to know somthin new to me.. I'll send some 2013 Turkish Izmir seeds for any "Ima-tela-U" LOL?????????

 

[Knucklehead]

Please explain what this is guys??? I don't know ,or heard of this in all the years of tobacco ??? What I have been thought is Baccy by Gramps. Never tryed anything but regular. Please pm or put in . Like to know somthin new to me.. I'll send some 2013 Turkish Izmir seeds for any "Ima-tela-U" LOL?????????

Are you asking about Perique? Start here: http://wholeleaftobaccollc.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?29-Perique

 

[Knucklehead]

Please explain what this is guys??? I don't know ,or heard of this in all the years of tobacco ??? What I have been thought is Baccy by Gramps. Never tryed anything but regular. Please pm or put in . Like to know somthin new to me.. I'll send some 2013 Turkish Izmir seeds for any "Ima-tela-U" LOL?????????

P.S. - Did you bag the seed?