ProZachJ's 2024 Grow Log
- Thread starter ProZachJ
- Start date
Progress report on some of my wet vacuum packed Perique (var) P1 and P2. The majority of these were originally packed on 8/3/24 and then on 10/26/24 taken out, unrolled and aired for a couple hours, re-wetted, and then vacuum sealed again. The color change is noticable vs the one roll that was vacuum sealed dry and vs the three that were originally sealed wet on 6/10 and have gone through the airing process two times.
Here is some P1 Perique that I put into a carotte for 6 months. I think I was a bit shy on moisture content to get all the fermentation I'd like but I've got plenty more still wrapped up where I added more water. It still has some lightly fruity / plumy smell so hopefully it will end up tasting good after it airs out.
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Here's what it looked like going in
ProZachJ's 2024 Grow Log
A few of the best leaves from Southern Beauty first priming. Nice even color and good sized. Winning.fairtradetobacco.com
This made for an excellent smoke all on its own. Very sweet, almost hard to believe it's strait tobacco with no added flavors. Definitely not SJP, but absolutely a keeper. Glad I have a bunch more of it wrapped up. I've tried blending it with some of my other varieties but so far with very. limited success. In the case of this preparation and both Texas Cuban and Staghorn I think I'm enjoying them alone more than the blends I've come up with using them. Next on the agenda is to sample some Little Dutch.
I currently have a good amount of options in that space... Samsun, Izmir, Lemon, Bright, Ripe
I tried 1:1 with Bright and it overwhelmed the flavor and added bite.
2:1 with Izmir was a better balance
I'll keep experimenting with these simple blends to get a feel for it.
Did a sample bowl of some P3 little dutch. This variety has the most distinct flavor of my 2024 crop. I detect a bit of everything, some floral aspects like an oriental, some bitterness like DAC, a light hint of sweet every so often, even some aroma approaching but not quite cigar. While smoking it I had the idea it might pair well with my fermented Perique (var). I mixed about 3 parts of the perique to one part little Dutch and it definitely made a good pair, at least as good as the Izmir blend maybe a tad better. Not quite a home run but something to keep working from.
ShiniKoroshi
Dental Floss Tycoon
Any idea as to nicotine content? Book Im reading from 1927 says .68%.
Very nice growing BTW.
MadFarmer
Well-Known Member
The aroma of Little Dutch triggers the most intense sense memory for me, almost Proustian. I'd say it's the aroma most of the drug store cigars aspire to but never beat it on flavor - they taste more of the paper box and cellophane they come packaged in. I wonder if Marsh Wheeling were the only American cigar makers to use it when it was commercially grown?
Marsh-Wheeling was the only American cigar maker whose CEO was willing to tell Bob what was actually in their cigars.
Bob
Polygon’s site says Little Dutch is 1.4%
Little Dutch | Сорта табака и махорки
Традиционный с 1880 года прекрасный ароматный сорт, используемый для начинки сигар и трубочных смесей. Относится к типу Бразиль-Байя.
tobacco.professorhome.ru
Continuing to experiment I'm finding the Little Dutch working well in small proportions. Adding just enough to a blend to taste the unique flavor now and again but not so much it becomes the primary note.
Today I quite enjoyed
1 part Little Dutch
3 parts Texas Cuban
6 parts Perique (var) fermented
Today I quite enjoyed
1 part Little Dutch
3 parts Texas Cuban
6 parts Perique (var) fermented
My first pressed plug made exclusively with the '24 crop.
I used about 1oz of my Vacuum fermented Perique. 1oz Staghorn. 1oz Southern Beauty.
Everything had its midrib removed and then was packed crumbled into the noodle press on alternating layers of a couple leaves of each variety. The leaf was in medium case with the exception of the Perique which had been aired out for a day after being removed from the vacuum bag but was still fairly moist.
After 72hrs in the press, the plug was smelling quite fermented and was moist (too much so) and gooey but had not really adhered to itself. As soon as it was removed from the press it began expanding and separating.
I teased out all the leaves and laid them out to dry until they were in low enough case to run through my shredder. Then the blended shred was put back in the noodle press for 36hrs.
I have high hopes for the result.
I used about 1oz of my Vacuum fermented Perique. 1oz Staghorn. 1oz Southern Beauty.
Everything had its midrib removed and then was packed crumbled into the noodle press on alternating layers of a couple leaves of each variety. The leaf was in medium case with the exception of the Perique which had been aired out for a day after being removed from the vacuum bag but was still fairly moist.
After 72hrs in the press, the plug was smelling quite fermented and was moist (too much so) and gooey but had not really adhered to itself. As soon as it was removed from the press it began expanding and separating.
I teased out all the leaves and laid them out to dry until they were in low enough case to run through my shredder. Then the blended shred was put back in the noodle press for 36hrs.
I have high hopes for the result.
Another 1.5lbs of Staghorn cleaned up and packaged for some aging...I'm going to need another "humidor" (ice chest), methinks. Still have something like 8 stringers hanging in the greenhouse. Mostly Perique, Texas Cuban, and Little Dutch left to get tucked in.
Ode to the Swamp Queen
The east Texas swamp in full regalia,
a thick fog coats my land.
The hanging leaf is in case,
I select the largest line, the swamp queen.
Handling her leaves remind me of her resilience and beauty in the field.
An exceptional amount of these leaves are large, uniform, and nearly flawless.
2.5lbs of the third priming of Perique is safely in hand.
It may be my similar climate to its home, but I think the Perique varity is under appreciated.
The east Texas swamp in full regalia,
a thick fog coats my land.
The hanging leaf is in case,
I select the largest line, the swamp queen.
Handling her leaves remind me of her resilience and beauty in the field.
An exceptional amount of these leaves are large, uniform, and nearly flawless.
2.5lbs of the third priming of Perique is safely in hand.
It may be my similar climate to its home, but I think the Perique varity is under appreciated.
I agree with that. Perique is an exceptional performer for me in Arkansas as well. Nice harvest, few disease issues, and a versatile tobacco for many uses. It's short aging period prior to use is also a nice benefit. No kilning or long storage period required although it does get a little better with it.
I'm thrilled to see you have tried staghorn as well.
It's a little belated but I also appreciate your efforts in the past to provide tomatoes and other garden produce to people in need in your local community. That means a lot to people. You are doing a good thing,
