If you look back at we2Rcool's posts he said that 130F, 135F did not make much difference then steeping at 120F. The magic number seemed to be 150F. I gave that a try in my UC at 150F and noticed a big difference in steep time and quality. So if your going to test this I would keep a control bottle off to the side as a benchmark then do one at 120F and one at 150F. Steep both for the exact same amount of time but you shouldn't need more then 3 - 5 hours for results. This is just my humble opinion.
Thanks Danny. I came in late in the discussion and haven't had the time to go back and read the post(s) about the difference between comparing temperatures by we2Rcool.
I have now done six bottles at 135 degrees, 2 at 4 hours, 2 at 6 hours and 2 at 8 hours, with 1 capped and 1 uncapped for each time.
I shook each bottle at each 2 hour mark as well.
I have NOT tasted any of the bottles as of yet and all have sat capped at room temperature for 12-16 hours now (basically overnight).
First thing I noticed was that there is no colorization difference between the capped/uncapped bottles for any of the durations when compared to the capped one for the same duration. Next there has been no loss of liquid between the capped or uncapped bottles (which I thought there may be because of using a dehydrator).
Next there is a distinct color difference between all duration bottles and the control bottle that was not heated (several shades).
Next, there is what I would say is about 1-2 shades different between the 4 hour and 6 hour and again between the 6 hour and the 8 hour bottles. Virtually no coloration difference between the capped/uncapped bottles of the same duration, although there may be a taste difference.
As per your advice (and that of we2Rcool's), I will next do another six bottles at 150 degrees using the exact same flavor mix. I also have some of this flavor that has steeped naturally for 3 months in a large amber bottle and after I am done with the 150 degree test I will put some in a clear glass bottle to compare coloration differences. Then start to actually TASTE the different durations to see what that results in.
FYI I am using a flavor that starts out, when freshly mixed, as a very, very light golden color that then turns to a much darker amber color when naturally steeped. I probably should do a tobacco that turns from a light yellow color to a red color after a long natural steeping, which may be the next set of testing that I do.
Just have to say THANKS to we2Rcool for their previous work on this and for sharing it with everyone (BTW, I am originally from Iowa, as it seems is we2Rcool. "Corn fed and country bred" as I like to say)! Hopefully as I do my testing I will be able to replicate and confirm their results. Now I just have to start using some saline in my mixes as they have suggested too (I already have 120ml of .9 saline solution waiting on me to do it).
