I have never tried DiY and am planning to start soon. One of the flavors I am thinking of buying is FA Lemon Sicily. If anyone has experience with this I would like to know if the lemon fades. What are some other lemons that do not fade?
Lemons That Do Not Fade
- Thread starter NotSoMini
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FA Lemon Sicily is a nice sweet lemon. It can be overpowered by stronger flavors, but if you use enough to taste it, it won't fade.
Inawera Lemon Mix is a less sweet, more natural lemon flavor, which is stronger and even more persistent.
Inawera Lemon Mix is a less sweet, more natural lemon flavor, which is stronger and even more persistent.
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I have tried several lemons (I'm a bit of a lemon head
) as they seem to appeal to me even when I have flavor blahs (when nothing tastes particularly good to me). I have used:
Have but have not tried yet: Lemonade by FlavorWest. Purchased on recommendation of other ECF members as being very good and less susceptible to flavor fade.
Want to try: Lemon Mix by Inawera. Strong reviews and supposed to be a more "complete" lemon flavor (fruit+rind notes) than their Lemon (Cytryna) offering (which is my personal favorite right now).
In my exploration of lemon concentrates, I have developed the following opinion (and it IS ONLY MY opinion). that most of the components that make lemon taste line lemon is from the aromatic components. By that I mean (at least for me) most of the "taste" is actually happening in my nose and not my mouth. I can prove this to myself by pinching my nose closed and then taking a pull of a lemon vape and exhale still holding my nose closed. They are also worthless to vape whenever I have a cold.
I have been told that aromatics, by their nature, are often volatile compounds (meaning they evaporate easily at room temperatures. This would explain why many lemons (and other heavily aromatic-dependent concentrates) can fade so quickly. If that is the case here are some things that can help slow the flavor loss:
) as they seem to appeal to me even when I have flavor blahs (when nothing tastes particularly good to me). I have used:- Lemon (Cytryna) by Inawera -- current favorite, good fresh lemon flavor, slower to fade than others, not tart (need to add Sour if I want that characteristic).
- Lemon (water soluble) by The Perfumer's(Flavor) Apprentice -- good all round lemon, fades after 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Mix smaller batches that can be used up in that time.
- Lemon Sicily by Flavor Art -- nice flavor but quite weak by FA standards. Can be a bit too "floral" in certain recipes, doesn't fade quite as fast as TFA's does. Good for adding to fruits to "brighten" when I don't want the lemon to take center stage.
- Juicy Lemon by Capella -- Similar to TFA's for profile. I haven't explored this one for fading behavior.
- Italian Lemon Sicily by Capella -- similar to FA's (on the floral side and quite weak) but fades more quickly (quickest of the 5 I have tried).
Have but have not tried yet: Lemonade by FlavorWest. Purchased on recommendation of other ECF members as being very good and less susceptible to flavor fade.
Want to try: Lemon Mix by Inawera. Strong reviews and supposed to be a more "complete" lemon flavor (fruit+rind notes) than their Lemon (Cytryna) offering (which is my personal favorite right now).
In my exploration of lemon concentrates, I have developed the following opinion (and it IS ONLY MY opinion). that most of the components that make lemon taste line lemon is from the aromatic components. By that I mean (at least for me) most of the "taste" is actually happening in my nose and not my mouth. I can prove this to myself by pinching my nose closed and then taking a pull of a lemon vape and exhale still holding my nose closed. They are also worthless to vape whenever I have a cold.
I have been told that aromatics, by their nature, are often volatile compounds (meaning they evaporate easily at room temperatures. This would explain why many lemons (and other heavily aromatic-dependent concentrates) can fade so quickly. If that is the case here are some things that can help slow the flavor loss:
- NEVER apply heat after lemon is introduced in a recipe. If you are going to use heat to accelerate the maturing process; add the lemon afterward.
- Minimize exposure to air. Air exchange encourages evaporation and aromatics evaporate easily. Like heat, if you need to "breathe" a recipe (leave to top open for long periods of time) add the lemon after you're done with the breathing process.
- Avoid excessive mixing with things like frothers and magnetic stirrers after lemon is added into the recipe.
- Try to leave as little headspace in the bottle as possible. More airspace left in the bottle allows for more evaporation before the air becomes saturated and no further evaporation can take place.
- Glass is preferable to plastic as plastic can allow a gas exchange through the plastic wall.
- Avoid excessive mixing with things like frothers and magnetic stirrers after lemon is added into the recipe.
- Mix in smaller batches that will be consumed prior to suffering excessive fading.
I think this was an excellent post by IDJoel too.
Lots of good information that I was unaware of but really rings true. My fav by AHL, Lemon Cream is only great the first few times I have filled a tank. After that it is only good. I have scads of 30mls in the fridge but I know once I open one I need to stay busy with it and not let it sit too long.
Lemon is a hard one and Lemon Sicily has become a fav.
The INw Lemon Mix is good, was just intro'd to me by my DIY guru. If a dash is added it will help with sustaining power
Lots of good information that I was unaware of but really rings true. My fav by AHL, Lemon Cream is only great the first few times I have filled a tank. After that it is only good. I have scads of 30mls in the fridge but I know once I open one I need to stay busy with it and not let it sit too long.
Lemon is a hard one and Lemon Sicily has become a fav.
The INw Lemon Mix is good, was just intro'd to me by my DIY guru. If a dash is added it will help with sustaining power
Thanks for the kind words (@tazzle and @NotSoMini too!). Please keep in mind this is mostly my opinion, and experience only. I do not offer it up as fact. Other may have a completely different experience.
You make a great point; and combining different lemons is where I need to visit next on my lemon journey. Often the combination of similar flavors will be better (fuller, richer, more complete, even more stable?). Thank you for mentioning this.
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