how long to steep?

[phorbin]

OK, so I've tried flavors from several different vendors, and since i'm still pretty new to vaping and my taste buds are starting to work again I'm finally noticing what people mean when they say flavors will change over time if allowed to steep.

So here is my question, how long should I let new flavors steep before beginning to vape them? Is there a rule of thumb on that, or is this one of those "everyone has a different opinion" kind of questions?

Thanks

Phorbin

PS I have an order from Ms Ts coming today....I'm going to want to break it open right away, but I guess I shouldn't.

 

[deback]

Probably a week at least. The longer, the better. Some juices are fine when you receive them, though.

Here's a video by Shan regarding steeping, if you're interested:
YouTube - ShanBurkholder's Channel

 

[banjo]

At least one week, and extend to two weeks if you can. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIEhJA9TzIQ

 

[deback]

Looks like the same video in the link I posted...

 

[Luvs5rugrats]

I thought the whole "steeping" thing was subjective. Here's my recent experience. Two weeks ago or thereabouts, I bought some Madvapes flavors that immediately made me want to toss my groceries. I almost dumped them but went for the more frugal approach and threw them in a drawer for a rainy day. I'm out of juice for the moment, so it's either that, my own DIY jars of vomit or my husbands dekang tobacco crap. I went with the last option because it was the best choice I had at the time. Out of curiosity, I opened up the madvapes jars of terror this morning and was shocked at the change in smell and taste when i dabbed it on my finger. Although they're still not all "OMG" fantastic, the flavors are really starting to come out and I can actually vape them and they're not bad! I bet in another two weeks they'll be really good! So...I take back anything bad I said about their juice or steeping. Apparently, it works for some juice.

Not my DIY, though. I have some that's over a month old that's just as bad (mostly worse) today than it was the day I made it. I'm expecting it to come to life like some evil zombie and start terrorizing me in my sleep. lol

 

[breaktru]

Yes exactly, it depends on the eJuice. Even when buying the same ejuice from the same vendor you may have to vary your steeping time. My first order of JC's Tennessee Cured needed about four days, the next order took a week to steep. My last order is sitting two weeks and seems to need more time. I have vaped eJuices from different sources that were fine on the day it arrived.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

I made a custom mix on Gourmet Vapor that I thought was just awful when I first got it. I left it alone for about 10 days and now it's fantastic! Unfortunately, cherry still doesn't get better for me after steeping. Those will go into the "rainy day/I'm desperate" drawer.

 

[Rykk]

What is "steeping"??? Do you heat it up like tea or something? From what I've read, above, it sounds to me like you're "aging" the juice...
Rick

 

[MilkyG]

Yes...aging. I've wondered why the term "steeping" keeps being used here. There's no extraction. I think the proper term would be "diffusion"...the time it takes for flavors, sweeteners and other components to diffuse through the liquid. The higher the viscosity (more VG vs PG), the longer it takes to completely mix and diffuse. This can be accelerated by warming the juice and mixing thoroughly. Adding a small amount (few %) of PGA will lower the viscosity ("thinning") and also speed up the process.

There are also plenty of other unknowns here that lend to flavor and color change (most likely oxidations, degradations, etc.). I'm a biochemist with a little organic chemistry from college, but if we have an organic chemist here in the forum they might have some significant input. I think this is really important to discuss at length since it has such a huge impact on the quality of our vaping experiences...especially for DIY folks and made-to-order vendors.

 

[jackoboy82]

When I buy pre-made liquids I always use them from the moment they arrive. Some taste good and others not so good, those I put in my "for another day" tin. I often find that when I get round to using them they've improved over time. When I DIY my own juice I always leave them in a dark cupboard for 2 weeks, only bringing them out once for a slight air (caps and lids removed) about 1 week in. As I make them in small volumes but big quantities some will have had 4 weeks before I get to use them. Each to there own but this works for me

 

[AlmightyGod]

Dang phorbin...somebody went waaayyy back to find this thread!