Need any suggestion for first time steeping

[PoPoPoP]

flavor mail should be here soon and the vendor has said that it's freshly made the moment I ordered.

never heard of steeping until now. I'm guessing... just leave each bottle in a cool, dark and closed cabinet for more than 1 week? and each day, shake each bottle well and open the cap for a bit, close the cap, shake again then put it back in the cabinet - rinse and repeat for a week or so (the flavor is gringerbread... so I'd expect it to turn brown).

I've heard that heat accelerates the steeping process but I don't want the nic to be degraded

oh, another question: sources say that certain flavors like cinnamon is bad for some tanks (something to do with plastic?). I'm really hoping that gringerbread isn't the same...

 

[CastleRat]

It sounds like you've got it. Different flavors age differently. I made some mango (DIY) about a month ago. I have tried it on and off and it has been a weak flavor - until yesterday. Suddenly it is a really rich flavor.

I make 100ml batches in 4oz amber bottles. The mango is now in the refrigerator to help it last a little longer.

 

[spaceballsrules]

Everything you wanted to know about steeping and then some.

 

[PoPoPoP]

Thanks, so it's implied that heating doesn't degrade the nic what so ever? Unless I heat it more than 150F or something? we use C here... hm. Ah, conversions. So useful

 

[Bunnykiller]

if heat degrades the nic, then when we vape it it gets degraded right??
so why are we vaping juice with nic in it if it gets degraded as we vape it......

just think about it for a moment

 

[DaveP]

When I steep, I put the bottles in a place where they won't get knocked around and remove the caps and leave them off. I squeeze the bottles to expel the air a couple of times a day and shake them to mix the juice again. Alcohols need exposure the the air to evaporate and breathing is part of steeping. I usually leave them steeping for a week before trying them again.

I tend not to re-order juices that aren't good right out of the mailbox.

 

[GPC2012]

Take the cap and dripper tip off the bottle, place the bottle in a cool dark place ie a cabinet or cupboard where it won't be disturbed or tipped over. For the first three days replace cap and shake like the dickens 3 to 4 times a day. then just let it set for another four days at least. This allows the flavors to mellow and meld, also allows the alcohol to evaporate. Some liquids may need a lot longer to steep.

 

[F4mnect]

i have a cup warmer and put them on there for 4 hours trying to shake them well every hour. then shut off and let sit for 2 days before tasting. works great for fruit and custard flavors.

 

[DaveP]

I really like Dekang and Hangsen juices. Once in a long while there's an undertaste that reminds me of "green grass" when they arreive in the mailbox. It's probably alcohols that haven't evaporated. Different batches can have that or not. Steeping helps. I know that both juice manufacturers sell concentrates designed to be mixed with PG and/or VG to make juices in different nic levels and PG/VG mixes. Maybe sometimes they are just too fresh when ordered.

Steeping helps in those cases.

 

[jojocode]

I ruined a 30ml bottle of Digby's Mum's Custard (my previous favourite flavour) by breathing it - I think breathing and steeping are two different activities.

Steeping is letting it sit. With the lid on. In a cool, dark place (cupboard). This would be for (perhaps) getting a nicer/stronger/more balanced flavour.

Breathing involves removing the lid, squeezing air out of/in to the bottle and shaking. This should be used for removing alcohol-y/chemical-y taste.

My Digby's needed steeping, NOT airing. It tasted like bum after being aired. Yuck.

Some vendors put the date of bottling on their labels - I LOVE this. I know my juice has, for example, been sat in storage waiting to be shipped since, say, February. It is so good to go. (I think Alchemist's Cupboard, a UK vendor, do this, as an example)

Other vendors, (for example, Herbal Tides, another UK vendor) mix the flavourings in with the nic juice only when you order. They say it's good to vape from day one, but if you want a more intense flavour, leave it sat in a cool, dark place, lid on.

I'd be nervous about airing a liquid now, after my wasted money on my favourite custard.

 

[PoPoPoP]

if heat degrades the nic, then when we vape it it gets degraded right??
so why are we vaping juice with nic in it if it gets degraded as we vape it......

just think about it for a moment

please answer the question..
some people said heat degrades the nic, while others say heat doesn't. what is the answer?
if heat actually degrades it, then how much "heat" is needed?
if heat doesn't, what should heat temp be to speed up the process?

this whole concept of steeping seems ridiculous to me. 1 week to months to fully complete the steeping process? sigh

 

[PoPoPoP]

if everybody here agrees that heat = degrades nic, then

for DIY, is it possible to make 0mg e-liquid. heat it up, speed up the process and so on. once it becomes brownish, amber or whatever, then just add nic to it?

 

[zoiDman]

please answer the question..
some people said heat degrades the nic, while others say heat doesn't. what is the answer?
if heat actually degrades it, then how much "heat" is needed?
if heat doesn't, what should heat temp be to speed up the process?

this whole concept of steeping seems ridiculous to me. 1 week to months to fully complete the steeping process? sigh

Heat Degrades many Things.

But if someone does not Quantify a statement like this with How Much is Degraded at a given Temperature, then they Haven't told you Much.

Maybe Someone with a Nicotine Tester can do a Before and After mg level of an e-Liquid so we can have some Numbers to Talk About.