Favorite tobacco flavoring discussion - Tobacco flavoring discussion only

[1vapeatatime]

Flue Cured and Burley tobaccos
Sorry I haven't been around for a few months.
I have posted in the past that I was in the tobacco industry for twelve years, mainly in the agricultural field, but also extensively in processing and blending.
I mainly dealt with Flue Cured and Burley tobaccos.
Flue Cured tobaccos by nature are slightly sweet and have a throat "fill" effect rather than a throat hit. I would say that they are really smooth but that would be inaccurate because different leaf stages in the plant produce different effects. The leaves are harvested from the bottom up as they mature, with the lower nicotine and body at the bottom of the plant, and the higher at the top. The first set of leaves are called primings, then come the lugs, cutters, leaf, and tips. Cutters, and Leaf are the most desirable because of their body, girth, combustibility, taste and nicotine content.
Burley Tobaccos are generally harvested as the whole plant matures, and are air cured in large open barns where the plant is hung upside down and allowed to age as it dries. Being mainly a filler type, burley tobaccos are pretty much lacking in personality as far as taste goes, but do have that straw-like, ashy characteristic that makes them a component of most cigarettes. Most pipe tobaccos also use Burley in different forms.....some by fermenting it heavily, others by adding different tobaccos, spices, and liquor.

So I've spent the Last couple of months working on a test to see which Flue Cured/Burley flavor was the best (for me), in order to make the perfect mix.

I'm testing.....Home extracted Flue-Cured, and Burley - Inawera, One on One, Hangsen, VZ, Flue Cureds
and German Flavors, One on One, VZ, Jungle, Inawera, and FlavourArt Burleys.

It is still ongoing and I will post my final results when I have them but this is what it is looking like so far:
Flue Cured: Home extraction was disappointing. Hangsen and One on One have the most accurate taste, with One on One being slightly better(very slightly). Inawera Flue Cured has the best taste, but I don't see it being a "pure" Flue Cured.
Burley: Excellent Home Extract, but so far I'm leaning towards the FlavourArt Burley. It is ashy, dry and bodied with a non-descript tobacco feel to it, which is what a good filler type tobacco should have.
I haven't posted dosages or % because I am still plying with these.

I believe that Flue Cured/Burley components are essential to a good cigarette/pipe style vape....then one can add their choices of enhancements or other flavors to make their perfect vape.

But this is just my outtake, and I may be way off, so take this as just me sharing my thoughts.
THanks

OK, I think I'm done with the Flue Cured tests I ran.
These were the flavors I tested:
Inawera TDM Flue Cured Tobacco....an excellent tobacco taste, but not a real flue cured taste.
Hangsen Flue Cured Tobacco....right on the dot.
One on One Flue Cured Tobacco....Right on the dot.
Vaping Zone Flue Cured Tobacco....meh!! nutty and 555 - like, not for me, and definitely not a FC type.
Home Extracted Flue Cured Tobacco....Not even close to what I was looking for, so forget it!!!

So I stayed with Hangsen, and OoO FCs and even though they seem to be what I was looking for, and remembered from my tobacco days they both have a taste of their own with OoO being a little brighter, and Hangsen a little smoother; as if they were tobaccos grown in two different regions with distinct characteristics. I can use this in blending.
I'm quite impressed with the taste of Inawera Flue Cured Tobacco, although like I said it doesn't taste like a true type, but there were such leaves in the farms, they were graded as BR1, CR1, CR2 etc... these were borderline over-ripe leaves, highly regarded but rare in important quantities, and could be smoked without blending because the were very tasty, and had good combustion.
Maybe Inawera was after this type of taste, if so...then well done.
Vaping zone Flue Cured Tobacco was as described, nutty and uncharacteristic, so I quickly discarded it.
My Home extract was a dud. I got a washed out generic tobacco taste from it. I used my usual 50/50 blend of Vodka and PG. but got poor taste, TH, and vapor.

This test was time consuming because of steep times involved, and brakes in between for a fresh outlook. I used 18mg of nicotine, and 50/50 VG/PG in all my samples. I tried various dosages and found that for my two winners 07dr/05ml worked best.
When I determined that Hangsen and OoO, were the best for me then I made a 50/50 blend of them mixed at my aforementioned dosages and it was perfect for the Flue Cured type.

I'm still not done with my Burley tests, because I got caught up in something else, but I'll post when I can.

Hope someone finds this info useful
Thanks

 

[Mad Scientist]

OK, I think I'm done with the Flue Cured tests I ran.
These were the flavors I tested:
Inawera TDM Flue Cured Tobacco....an excellent tobacco taste, but not a real flue cured taste.
Hangsen Flue Cured Tobacco....right on the dot.
One on One Flue Cured Tobacco....Right on the dot.
Vaping Zone Flue Cured Tobacco....meh!! nutty and 555 - like, not for me, and definitely not a FC type.
Home Extracted Flue Cured Tobacco....Not even close to what I was looking for, so forget it!!!

So I stayed with Hangsen, and OoO FCs and even though they seem to be what I was looking for, and remembered from my tobacco days they both have a taste of their own with OoO being a little brighter, and Hangsen a little smoother; as if they were tobaccos grown in two different regions with distinct characteristics. I can use this in blending.
I'm quite impressed with the taste of Inawera Flue Cured Tobacco, although like I said it doesn't taste like a true type, but there were such leaves in the farms, they were graded as BR1, CR1, CR2 etc... these were borderline over-ripe leaves, highly regarded but rare in important quantities, and could be smoked without blending because the were very tasty, and had good combustion.
Maybe Inawera was after this type of taste, if so...then well done.
Vaping zone Flue Cured Tobacco was as described, nutty and uncharacteristic, so I quickly discarded it.
My Home extract was a dud. I got a washed out generic tobacco taste from it. I used my usual 50/50 blend of Vodka and PG. but got poor taste, TH, and vapor.

This test was time consuming because of steep times involved, and brakes in between for a fresh outlook. I used 18mg of nicotine, and 50/50 VG/PG in all my samples. I tried various dosages and found that for my two winners 07dr/05ml worked best.
When I determined that Hangsen and OoO, were the best for me then I made a 50/50 blend of them mixed at my aforementioned dosages and it was perfect for the Flue Cured type.

I'm still not done with my Burley tests, because I got caught up in something else, but I'll post when I can.

Hope someone finds this info useful
Thanks

Yes! Very useful. Keep it coming.

 

[JD1]

.............
I'm quite impressed with the taste of Inawera Flue Cured Tobacco, although like I said it doesn't taste like a true type, but there were such leaves in the farms, they were graded as BR1, CR1, CR2 etc... these were borderline over-ripe leaves, highly regarded but rare in important quantities, and could be smoked without blending because the were very tasty, and had good combustion.
Maybe Inawera was after this type of taste, if so...then well done.
Vaping zone Flue Cured Tobacco was as described, nutty and uncharacteristic, so I quickly discarded it.
.............
Hope someone finds this info useful
Thanks

Was the Flue Cured from VZ their Virginia Flue Cured from the alcohol (China) line? If so I'm wondering about the 'bad batch' question because I have that flavor and to me it is a flue cured type, albeit not a very good one imo. What I have has a strong silage note that's hard to get past.

I now feel the need to pick up the Inawera and give that a try. Thanks a lot.

Great review. Thanks for posting and I'm looking forward to your burley review.

 

[dannyv45]

OK, I think I'm done with the Flue Cured tests I ran.
These were the flavors I tested:
Inawera TDM Flue Cured Tobacco....an excellent tobacco taste, but not a real flue cured taste.
Hangsen Flue Cured Tobacco....right on the dot.
One on One Flue Cured Tobacco....Right on the dot.
Vaping Zone Flue Cured Tobacco....meh!! nutty and 555 - like, not for me, and definitely not a FC type.
Home Extracted Flue Cured Tobacco....Not even close to what I was looking for, so forget it!!!

So I stayed with Hangsen, and OoO FCs and even though they seem to be what I was looking for, and remembered from my tobacco days they both have a taste of their own with OoO being a little brighter, and Hangsen a little smoother; as if they were tobaccos grown in two different regions with distinct characteristics. I can use this in blending.
I'm quite impressed with the taste of Inawera Flue Cured Tobacco, although like I said it doesn't taste like a true type, but there were such leaves in the farms, they were graded as BR1, CR1, CR2 etc... these were borderline over-ripe leaves, highly regarded but rare in important quantities, and could be smoked without blending because the were very tasty, and had good combustion.
Maybe Inawera was after this type of taste, if so...then well done.
Vaping zone Flue Cured Tobacco was as described, nutty and uncharacteristic, so I quickly discarded it.
My Home extract was a dud. I got a washed out generic tobacco taste from it. I used my usual 50/50 blend of Vodka and PG. but got poor taste, TH, and vapor.

This test was time consuming because of steep times involved, and brakes in between for a fresh outlook. I used 18mg of nicotine, and 50/50 VG/PG in all my samples. I tried various dosages and found that for my two winners 07dr/05ml worked best.
When I determined that Hangsen and OoO, were the best for me then I made a 50/50 blend of them mixed at my aforementioned dosages and it was perfect for the Flue Cured type.

I'm still not done with my Burley tests, because I got caught up in something else, but I'll post when I can.

Hope someone finds this info useful
Thanks

Excellent evaluation and review. I agree Hangsen FC is about as good as it gets. great job, great report.

 

[Exchaner]

Has anyone tried Inawera's Western Tobacco? Someone gave it a 10+ rating in the other thread, and said you only need 3-4 drops per 10 ml. It's currently out of stock in BC.

 

[JD1]

Has anyone tried Inawera's Western Tobacco? Someone gave it a 10+ rating in the other thread, and said you only need 3-4 drops per 10 ml. It's currently out of stock in BC.

If you're talking about Western Blend I'm vaping a doctored version of it now . The description at BC is "Slightly sweet, strong but mild aroma. There is a cranberries and wild strawberries aroma." The 'strong but mild' seems like a contradiction but somehow manages to be a good description imo.

My initial report wasn't that positive as a flavor for my tastes but I've changed my mind. I think I need to take a cue from 1vapeatatime and spend a little more time and effort before rushing to post on a fresh mixed flavor.

Stand a lone, I don't get cranberry and strawberry although I can tell that something has been added. Sharper taste buds than mine might be able to pick them out though. Tobacco notes seem to me like a blend of Virginia and something else, but typical Ina goodness. It is a good stout flavor and I can see where some would like it at 1%, but I think most would like it at 2% or higher.

Anyways, here's my doctored Western Blend mix that I'm diggin' at the moment. E Juice Me Up set to 35 drops = 1ml for measurement. 8ml mix with 2 days steep time, great cherry pipe mix.

Ina Western Blend 6 drops 2%
Ina Cuban Cigar TA 3 drops 1%
Ina Cherries 3 drops 1%
FA Oak Wood 2 drops .75%

I hope this helps some and I also hope BC restocks because Western Blend will be a repeat order for me.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Just as a point of reference, the BCV "Chinese" flavoring are not the same as the VZ SC flavorings. I know we've been talking about whether they are or probably are, but I can confirm that for sure at least not all of them are. Same with VT, not all the same as the VZ SC. Not the same of course isn't better or not better, just not the same.

 

[JD1]

Just as a point of reference, the BCV "Chinese" flavoring are not the same as the VZ SC flavorings. I know we've been talking about whether they are or probably are, but I can confirm that for sure at least not all of them are. Same with VT, not all the same as the VZ SC. Not the same of course isn't better or not better, just not the same.

I was hoping their Real Cig and Cigar were the same. Oh well, I'm wanting to try a few more Hangsen and Inawera flavors anyway so I won't cry too much.

 

[chopdoc]

If you're talking about Western Blend I'm vaping a doctored version of it now . The description at BC is "Slightly sweet, strong but mild aroma. There is a cranberries and wild strawberries aroma." The 'strong but mild' seems like a contradiction but somehow manages to be a good description imo.

My initial report wasn't that positive as a flavor for my tastes but I've changed my mind. I think I need to take a cue from 1vapeatatime and spend a little more time and effort before rushing to post on a fresh mixed flavor.

Stand a lone, I don't get cranberry and strawberry although I can tell that something has been added. Sharper taste buds than mine might be able to pick them out though. Tobacco notes seem to me like a blend of Virginia and something else, but typical Ina goodness. It is a good stout flavor and I can see where some would like it at 1%, but I think most would like it at 2% or higher.

Anyways, here's my doctored Western Blend mix that I'm diggin' at the moment. E Juice Me Up set to 35 drops = 1ml for measurement. 8ml mix with 2 days steep time, great cherry pipe mix.

Ina Western Blend 6 drops 2%
Ina Cuban Cigar TA 3 drops 1%
Ina Cherries 3 drops 1%
FA Oak Wood 2 drops .75%

I hope this helps some and I also hope BC restocks because Western Blend will be a repeat order for me.

I always avoided Western because I associated it with Type M which I abhor. Going by your review JD, I might have to give it a try.

 

[chopdoc]

OK, I think I'm done with the Flue Cured tests I ran.
These were the flavors I tested:
Inawera TDM Flue Cured Tobacco....an excellent tobacco taste, but not a real flue cured taste.
Hangsen Flue Cured Tobacco....right on the dot.
One on One Flue Cured Tobacco....Right on the dot.
Vaping Zone Flue Cured Tobacco....meh!! nutty and 555 - like, not for me, and definitely not a FC type.
Home Extracted Flue Cured Tobacco....Not even close to what I was looking for, so forget it!!!

So I stayed with Hangsen, and OoO FCs and even though they seem to be what I was looking for, and remembered from my tobacco days they both have a taste of their own with OoO being a little brighter, and Hangsen a little smoother; as if they were tobaccos grown in two different regions with distinct characteristics. I can use this in blending.
I'm quite impressed with the taste of Inawera Flue Cured Tobacco, although like I said it doesn't taste like a true type, but there were such leaves in the farms, they were graded as BR1, CR1, CR2 etc... these were borderline over-ripe leaves, highly regarded but rare in important quantities, and could be smoked without blending because the were very tasty, and had good combustion.
Maybe Inawera was after this type of taste, if so...then well done.
Vaping zone Flue Cured Tobacco was as described, nutty and uncharacteristic, so I quickly discarded it.
My Home extract was a dud. I got a washed out generic tobacco taste from it. I used my usual 50/50 blend of Vodka and PG. but got poor taste, TH, and vapor.

This test was time consuming because of steep times involved, and brakes in between for a fresh outlook. I used 18mg of nicotine, and 50/50 VG/PG in all my samples. I tried various dosages and found that for my two winners 07dr/05ml worked best.
When I determined that Hangsen and OoO, were the best for me then I made a 50/50 blend of them mixed at my aforementioned dosages and it was perfect for the Flue Cured type.

I'm still not done with my Burley tests, because I got caught up in something else, but I'll post when I can.

Hope someone finds this info useful
Thanks

Excellent review 1vapeatatime. Your right about having to take a break. Thats why I had to stop doing reviews. I was trying so many they was started to blend together so it was time to take a prolonged break.

 

[chopdoc]

Was ordering flavors the other day and I found this recipe in the Latakia reviews. It called for %60 Golden Virginia, %20 Turkish and %20 latakia so I mixed this up.
%3 Golden Virginia (Flavor Express)
%1 Turkish (Hangsen)
%1 Latakia (Inawera)

After 5 hours of steep time I filled a tank and gave it a vape. Has a rich grassy flavor with a hint of smokeyness and a tad of spice to it. Very enjoyable vape!

 

[chopdoc]

When I mix something new, I never could mix just one thing. I gotta experiment and try different things. I did that last night and came up with this.
%3 Golden Virginia (Flavor Express)
%1 Turkish (Hangsen)
%1 Perique Black (FA)

I been looking for a way to try the Perique Black where it would be an enhancer flavor instead of a dominating one and I think I came up with a winner here. This had 6 hours UC steep time with vigorous shakes in between but I am sure a few days in a warm environment would help it a lot. Presently the flavor is an exotic one. A burley deep grassy robust flavor thats dryish with a peppery twang to it. Would be an outstanding after dinner vape with a steaming cup of coffee.
I am vaping this on a Samuri RDA at 35 watts. Usually I prefer my tobacco blends in an RDA but didnt feel like cleaning a tank today and re-wicking.

 

[JD1]

.............................

This test was time consuming because of steep times involved, and brakes in between for a fresh outlook. I used 18mg of nicotine, and 50/50 VG/PG in all my samples. I tried various dosages and found that for my two winners 07dr/05ml worked best. ...............................

Excellent review 1vapeatatime. Your right about having to take a break. Thats why I had to stop doing reviews. I was trying so many they was started to blend together so it was time to take a prolonged break.

+1 on taking more time with things we're going to post on. Another bad on my part was my report on the TH nic from Vapers Tek. I reported that I couldn't tell any difference from the clean nic, which was true at the time, but now after a few weeks it's picking up a slight gold tinge and a little different mouth feel. Not really a pepper taste but some what of a different taste that I don't know how to describe. I'm fine with it in most of my tobacco mixes but I'm going to pick up a bottle of the clean stuff for some of my mixes as soon as I can.

Speaking of taking a break from our main flavors I think it's a little like the old saying 'a change is as good as a rest' and I used to switch to a little unflavored from time to time although I don't enjoy unflavored all that much. Now, thanks to a tip from Danny, I add 1 drop per 1ml of Koolada and a drop or two of something else so that I no longer vape unflavored, just light flavored lol. Makes a big difference for me.

Here's an example of a light flavor mix that I'm vaping at the moment. I like this so much better than unflavored.

2ml mix no steep time.
TFA Koolada 2drops
TFA DK Tobacco 2drops

Thanks Danny for the Koolada tip.

 

[dannyv45]

I am addicted to the bullcity cohiba - SC. It has quickly become my #1 ADV. I just ordered 3 more bottles. Who would have thought something so simple to make can be so good. Hardly needs any steeping. My 10ml test batch I steeped for 5 hours and found it didn't need it. It tasted almost the same as when it was freshly mixed. Then made 120mls and just put it on the shelf. Sampled it the next day and it was great.

Cohiba 2%
Samara TA 2%
Inawera DNB 2%

The bullcity black and mild - SC is good but not my cup of tea as a stand alone. Has a bit of a raspyness to it. Would be good in a lower percentage (1 - 1.5%) as a base for a cream or nut MIX recipe.

Still impressed with the hangsen RY4. For those of you that like a sweet syurpy RY4 this is not for you. Tastes close to the original Ruyun formula. Has a noticeable tobacco overtone and the caramel creamyness is perfectly executed not being heavy or overly sweet. It is properly used as a minor note as it should be.

 

[chopdoc]

I am addicted to the bullcity cohiba - SC. It has quickly become my #1 ADV. I just ordered 3 more bottles. Who would have thought something so simple to make can be so good. Hardly needs any steeping. My 10ml test batch I steeped for 5 hours and found it didn't need it. It tasted almost the same as when it was freshly mixed. Then made 120mls and just put it on the shelf. Sampled it the next day and it was great.

Cohiba 2%
Samara TA 2%
Inawera DNB 2%

The bullcity black and mild - SC is good but not my cup of tea as a stand alone. Has a bit of a raspyness to it. Would be good in a lower percentage (1 - 1.5%) as a base for a cream or nut MIX recipe.

Still impressed with the hangsen RY4. For those of you that like a sweet syurpy RY4 this is not for you. Tastes close to the original Ruyun formula. Has a noticeable tobacco overtone and the caramel creamyness is perfectly executed not being heavy or overly sweet. It is properly used as a minor note as it should be.

How would you describe the Cohiba? Bullcity just says its a concentrate in its description.

Black and mild I kinda thought would make a good supporting flavor for a tobacco blend kinda like Perique is. Would do well with a bold tobacco flavor.

If anyone orders from EcigsExpress use coupon code ECFForum. Made an $84 order the other day and it took $8 off of it. Wished you would of posted this the other day Danny, would of added Hangsen RY4 to the order. Picked up some signature double RY4.

 

[chopdoc]

Finally got around to trying out hangsen Congress. Very good cig like vape. Mixed at %5 and vaping it max VG at 25 watts in a RTA and its a very enjoyable well balanced flavor. It has a rich flavor on the inhale and a slight smokeyish flavor on the exhale. Another winner from hangsen.

 

[dannyv45]

How would you describe the Cohiba? Bullcity just says its a concentrate in its description.

I would describe it being as close to a real cigar as you can get. A little on the sweeter side but delivers a fresh tobacco wrapper taste on the inhale like the taste you get in your mouth from the wet outer tobacco leaf end wrapper and that true cigar tobacco smoke taste on the exhale. Combine it with 2% samara TA and 2% DNB and you have a real winner.

 

[chopdoc]

I would describe it being as close to a real cigar as you can get. A little on the sweeter side but delivers a fresh tobacco wrapper taste on the inhale like the taste you get in your mouth from the wet outer tobacco leaf end wrapper and that true cigar tobacco smoke taste on the exhale. Combine it with 2% samara TA and 2% DNB and you have a real winner.

I added %2 Samera to it and its great. Adds a sweetness to it as well as the cig tobacco flavor became more of a cigar flavor. Its like a whole new vape now. For now am going to skip the DNB. It has a good throat hit but that might be from vaping it at 30 watts, and it has a decent smokey flavor on the exhale.

 

[chopdoc]

My EcigsExpress order arrived today and finally got my hands on some Gold Ducet. Been wanting to try that for a while. Couple flavors I picked up are for my tobacco box. Smoked Plums and Raisins. I wanted Rum Raisins because JD uses it alot in his recipes but have yet to find that flavor. I think the Smoked Plums and Raisins will make excellent enhancing flavors for tobacco mixes.

 

[Mad Scientist]

My EcigsExpress order arrived today and finally got my hands on some Gold Ducet. Been wanting to try that for a while. Couple flavors I picked up are for my tobacco box. Smoked Plums and Raisins. I wanted Rum Raisins because JD uses it alot in his recipes but have yet to find that flavor. I think the Smoked Plums and Raisins will make excellent enhancing flavors for tobacco mixes.

What do you think of the INW Cavendish? I taste plums with that one too.