I had gleened a few tidbits about commercial smokes from this site. Nothing as informative as above however...
####//legacy.library.ucsf.edu/
####//legacy.library.ucsf.edu/
What am i doing wrong with Whole Leaf Tobacco blends?
- Thread starter Michael B. Smith
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DonH
Well-Known Member
Great read, smoker. Finally I understand why Camel doesn't taste like it has Turkish in it. It was just invented at a time when Turkish names were fashionably for cigarette brands.
AmaxB
Well-Known Member
I'll agree with DonH "Nice Read" I had a PDF - may still have it some place - that was much like this one but went a little deeper with the different blends with heavy focus on Camel & Marlboro. I'll be adding this one to my collection.
Nice Find smoker
If the tobacco is well aged I find a mix of 13oz VA bright, 1oz Dark Air, and 2oz MD 609 to produce a rich taste but mild smoke. If the Dark Air is replaced with Red Tips a nic kick comes to play with greater body.
Nice Find smoker
If the tobacco is well aged I find a mix of 13oz VA bright, 1oz Dark Air, and 2oz MD 609 to produce a rich taste but mild smoke. If the Dark Air is replaced with Red Tips a nic kick comes to play with greater body.
Using the search option, all kinds of documents can be found but from a commercial point of view. Alot of it is either too technical or doe's not really apply to homemade blends. Here's another one. Sorry I don't mean to stray from the original post... i'll stop now.
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ckq76a99/pdf
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ckq76a99/pdf
forumdotabaco
Well-Known Member
I may have some docs that may help duplicating commercial blends and casings
http://www.forumdotabaco.com/viewforum.php?f=129
http://www.forumdotabaco.com/viewforum.php?f=129
AmaxB
Well-Known Member
Awesome - for any interested in cigarette tobacco this is a must read, download, and save. Lots of detail to help build understanding.
POST #44
POST #44
AmaxB
Well-Known Member
leverhead
Well-Known Member
Hey smoker, good documents! The Legacy Library is very good resource, a little hard to search. For me anyway, there's too much stuff there. There's allot of clues and small details that make a big difference, even at the small quantities I make.
garryricketson
Well-Known Member
Re: What am i doing wrong?
Then, also, I "shred" my tobacco first, take out all the stems, etc, so it pure leaf. I don't use any "casing" other then some orange peels, to humidify it so it rolls well. When it is to dry, it is harsher,...
If you are used to smoking filter cigarettes, commercial, that may be part of it. Rolling a thinner cigarette usually gives a "milder" smoke too,..
My wife smokes filtered comercial smokes, "Raleigh", and I have tried different things with the tobacco I have, everything except adding filters, and she always still says it is to "harsh", simply does not like it. To experiment, I had her break off a filter, of one of her smokes, .... she did not like that either,.. when I do smoke one of hers, like if I don't have my tobacco with me , I all ways break the filter off,..but to me they still seem "harsher" then what I am used to smoking.
That was what I was thinking too,...
Then, also, I "shred" my tobacco first, take out all the stems, etc, so it pure leaf. I don't use any "casing" other then some orange peels, to humidify it so it rolls well. When it is to dry, it is harsher,...
If you are used to smoking filter cigarettes, commercial, that may be part of it. Rolling a thinner cigarette usually gives a "milder" smoke too,..
My wife smokes filtered comercial smokes, "Raleigh", and I have tried different things with the tobacco I have, everything except adding filters, and she always still says it is to "harsh", simply does not like it. To experiment, I had her break off a filter, of one of her smokes, .... she did not like that either,.. when I do smoke one of hers, like if I don't have my tobacco with me , I all ways break the filter off,..but to me they still seem "harsher" then what I am used to smoking.
Desertpipe
Well-Known Member
I could not agree more.
As the first time purchaser of WLT Virginias, I realized quickly that there was much I did not know, and this thread was a great place to start. Primarily interested in creating pipe tobaccos, I realize now that I need to find as much information on "kilning" as I can. Is there a sticky somewhere that covers this subject?
One other question....The Red Flue Cured VA arrived with a large number of round white dots, hard, not fuzzy, and almost perfectly round ....not any type of mold I have ever seen, so I think it was something that might have occurred in the either in the field, or during curing. Am I correct in this assumption?
ChucK
I don't think there is a sticky on kilning, but there probably should be. I was told that the spots represent the presence of sugar in the leaf. The Red is a ripe leaf so it is higher in sugar than the other types and perhaps the curing process does affect the visibility of the sugar. I do not know the scientific process that is occurring, but I can assure you the spots are not mold.
Do a search for "frog eye" and you'll get a much better understanding of what the spots are.
Do a search for "frog eye" and you'll get a much better understanding of what the spots are.
forumdotabaco
Well-Known Member
Filters are another subject, that for sure impacts the final result, I've read about it in the past they aren't meant to protect us but to adjust flavours etc take a look here http://www.forumdotabaco.com/viewforum.php?f=396 there are some documents that may help
Re: What am i doing wrong?
I smoked Raleighs for a short while many years ago. They don't make them anymore right? They had an unusual taste I had grown fond of briefly. Also, I recall soming a few Balkan Sobranie cigarettes. They were amazng! They do not make those now either and tins of them are going for outrageous prices. Nowdays I don't use filters at all. If I have a pack of Marlboros I tear the filters off.
I smoked Raleighs for a short while many years ago. They don't make them anymore right? They had an unusual taste I had grown fond of briefly. Also, I recall soming a few Balkan Sobranie cigarettes. They were amazng! They do not make those now either and tins of them are going for outrageous prices. Nowdays I don't use filters at all. If I have a pack of Marlboros I tear the filters off.
forumdotabaco
Well-Known Member
I don't use filter also, but I'm an hand roller, I don't smoke commercial cigarettes for years now, use to smoke Rothmans blue
Northern Light Up
Active Member
I didn't read all 6 pages so forgive me if this has been said.
The rolling apparatus has a big effect on final product. What papers/tubes are you using? I hand roll my smokables with Zig Zags, just because I'm pretty new to this, make your own stuff.
Each Zig Zag I've tried has a very big, varying impact. Whites, Greens, Blues. Whites are super harsh. I use greens now.
The rolling apparatus has a big effect on final product. What papers/tubes are you using? I hand roll my smokables with Zig Zags, just because I'm pretty new to this, make your own stuff.
Each Zig Zag I've tried has a very big, varying impact. Whites, Greens, Blues. Whites are super harsh. I use greens now.
Northern Light Up
Active Member
Hey Admin. I say delete this post. I think this guy was trolling.
While we do get deliberate attempts to sabotage the integrity of the whole leaf site, some (like this one) actually serve a couple of purposes.
1. Some people who read this thread might come to the realization that processing whole leaf isn't as easy as "chop it up and smoke it". The thread tempers unrealistic expectations of the whole leaf mystique.
2. The suggestions to remedy the problems described that have been offered in this thread can serve to help a lot of other people.
Northern Light Up
Active Member
I am going only by what I read. I was under the impression flue cured virginia was the most mild smoke available. I didn't realize it could be acrid and harsh.
Matty
Well-Known Member
Don't use rice paper (zig zag white, OCB or hemp paper), try normal Players or Export paper.
Another thought briefly mentioned prior is proper shredding size.
If the blend includes a harsh leaf..ie dark air...andnthe shred is thick cut...then the user will encounter choke /dark air chunks in the smoke..thereby thinking..wow..i only put 5% dark air in...so i blended correctly but actually hitting 30/50% dark air at sections of the smoke..which in those choke points...no amount of casing will relieve harshness.
If the blend includes a harsh leaf..ie dark air...andnthe shred is thick cut...then the user will encounter choke /dark air chunks in the smoke..thereby thinking..wow..i only put 5% dark air in...so i blended correctly but actually hitting 30/50% dark air at sections of the smoke..which in those choke points...no amount of casing will relieve harshness.
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