Can't get raspberry right

[Marc411]

So I plucked this recipe off of the "Recipes for dummies" thread and mixed it on the 13th. Just tried it in the atomic and floral as hell.

I've nailed it with other mixes but when they go bad they just go bad. Have the same issue with a Raspberry Rancher.Raspberry is a favorite and I've been mixing a while. Is there a trick to Raspberry, a secret handshake?


Raspberry 3% (recipe called for 5%, I started at 3%)
Strawberry 5%
Sweet Watermelon 5%
Sweetener 2%
Ethyl Maltol 2%

 

[jambi]

....Is there a trick to Raspberry, a secret handshake?


Raspberry 3% (recipe called for 5%, I started at 3%)
Strawberry 5%
Sweet Watermelon 5%
Sweetener 2%
Ethyl Maltol 2%

Not all raspberries are created equal, and that thread is currently 23 pages long. What brand of Raspberry are we talking about?

 

[Marc411]

I used TFA like posted.

Here is the original from the thread.

Fruit Roll Up
5% TFA Raspberry
5% TFA Strawberry
5% CAP Sweet Watermelon
2% TFA Sweetener
2% TFA Ethyl Maltol

 

[IDJoel]

Just tried it in the atomic and floral as hell.

Aromatics/floral notes are fairly easy to tame, as they tend to evaporate/dissipate rather quickly, just give it a little time with the bottle open (cap and drip tip off). Gentle heat will accelerate this even faster; just be careful, as this will dissipate all aromatics (like the watermelon, and even parts of the strawberry notes), as well. I would give it a couple of hours uncapped, shake, vape test (taste), and repeat as needed until it calms down. I have had unwanted aromatics take anywhere from 3 hours, to 2 days, to settle down (with breathing). It just depends on potency (how dominant the aromatic is), and volume of the mix (larger volumes seem to take more time).

Raspberry (in general), can be kind of in-your-face, and 3% is about at the top of my personal preference scale. The EM might subdue it a bit, but overall, I think time is going to be your best friend.

Lemon concentrates are kind of the opposite for me; I love them fresh, but as soon as the aromatics dissipate, they go flat, and lose almost all flavor. I have learned to mix in small amounts, and minimize unnecessary headspace, to salvage as much of the aromatics, for as long as possible. And that still only gets me about a two week self life.

 

[Marc411]

Appreciated IDJoel!

I've been mixing for a little over a year and never left a bottle open after I mixed. You learn something new everyday and I truly appreciate the feedback since Raspberry is an all time favorite.

Popped the tops as soon as I read the post.

 

[IDJoel]

Appreciated IDJoel!

I've been mixing for a little over a year and never left a bottle open after I mixed. You learn something new everyday and I truly appreciate the feedback since Raspberry is an all time favorite.

Popped the tops as soon as I read the post.

Some folks will do it with every mix they make; usually to get rid of ethyl alcohol. I tend to you the technique sparingly. As I mentioned; you are setting up an environment that is not selective; so it will allow any, and all aromatics, and volatiles, an opportunity to escape. When I am working with a recipe that is new to me (or a new concentrate in a familiar recipe), I will never breathe the mix until I have tasted it and determined it is actually needed.

I am glad you found it useful; I hope it helps your creation!

 

[jambi]

I used TFA like posted.

Here is the original from the thread.

Fruit Roll Up
5% TFA Raspberry
5% TFA Strawberry
5% CAP Sweet Watermelon
2% TFA Sweetener
2% TFA Ethyl Maltol

Adding on to what @IDJoel said about breathing, both of TFA's raspberries would definitely benefit from a little breathing. They are as you say, floral as hell, and a little airing out can usually tone that down. My problem with them is I get cough medicine from them too.

Can you taste the watermelon at all in that recipe?

I really like Raspberry too, but the TFA's just don't cut it for me. CAPs V1 isn't any better, it's weak until you put enough in to taste it, then it's all about cough syrup spiked with rose petals. I'm sure other folks find it useful, but that's what I get from it. Maybe my expectations are too lofty. Maybe the V2 is an improvement?

Inawera's raspberries are better. The one named "Raspberry" is good, but really concentrated. It's a little hard to sync it with other flavors, but it works well when it's in balance. It has a certain "tang" that I'm not entirely fond of...

My favorite raspberry at the moment is Inawera's Shisha, though it's a bit weird as well. Not floral or medicinal at all, not overly sweet or candyish, and not as strong as INW "Raspberry", but it's a bit..."dry" (the Shisha-ness). I sub this raspberry for TFA's sweet in Berry Berry Good and it's excellent. 0.50 to 1% as an accent/booster, up to 3% if you want it up front. It plays well with similar fruits. However, it's got a strangely powerful aroma, even small amounts. Mix it with something, all you smell is the Shisha Raspberry, and you think it's taken over the mix and ruined it, but nope, you can taste the other flavors. My most recent fooling around with this has been combining it with equal parts FA Blackcurrant and Strawberry. Can't smell the Blackcurrant at all over the Shisha Raspberry, but Blackcurrant is the dominant flavor. Powerful aroma notwithstanding, it's one of the better raspberries IMHO...

...though I've heard that Medicine Flower's is the BEST.

 

[Marc411]

Thanks jambi. I have the other Raspberries that you mentioned and will start trying the Shisha Raspberry in my mixes.

I've started moving away from the TFA fruit flavoring so this information is also real helpful.

I need to find my sweet spot for Raspberry!

 

[zoiDman]

So I plucked this recipe off of the "Recipes for dummies" thread and mixed it on the 13th. Just tried it in the atomic and floral as hell.

I've nailed it with other mixes but when they go bad they just go bad. Have the same issue with a Raspberry Rancher.Raspberry is a favorite and I've been mixing a while. Is there a trick to Raspberry, a secret handshake?


Raspberry 3% (recipe called for 5%, I started at 3%)
Strawberry 5%
Sweet Watermelon 5%
Sweetener 2%
Ethyl Maltol 2%

If it was Me, I would try a batch without the EM. And maybe Dial Back the Watermelon as much as you Dial Up the Raspberry.

What Direction do you want the Recipe to go?

More Zing? (add a 1 Drop of Pineapple)
More Sour? (add Sweet n' Sour)
More Balanced? (add Apple)
Rounder? (add Grape)
Smoother? (add Peach)
etc...

I think for TFA Flavors, your Total Flavoring are OK. So if I added something, I would decrease something by about the same amount.

I would also put a Couple drops of H2O in a 15ml batch no matter what Flavoring you use.

 

[jambi]

Since you seem to like berries, here's one (of many) mutations of @Capt.shay 's Berry Berry Good that uses Shisha Rasp.
TFA VBIC 6%
TFA Marshmallow 2%
FA Forest Fruit 4%
INW Shisha Rasp. 1%
INW Shisha Strawberry 0.50 %

His original uses TFA Rasp. Sweet and TFA Strawberry Ripe at the same %. The first time I made this, I did not like that TA Sweet Rasp. at all. It was medicinal and obscured the Forest Fruit (another great berry flavor, if you don't already have it) so I left it out entirely and immediately loved it. I've done so many variations of it since then that I've lost track, but the above is my most recent/favorite variant. The Shisha Strawberry really isn't detectable as such, but it gives the other berries a little kick and adds some sweetness. You could leave it out if you want.

Currently trying to find a workaround for the VBIC, as I think the berries would be much more vivid without it, but haven't found a suitable creamy vanilla replacement for it yet.

 

[Marc411]

zoiD, I'll give it a shot without the EM, thanks...

jambi, I was going to ask for the recipe but you got it posted before I could ask, one of the few times I have everything I need. Appreciated!