Preparation of Concentrate Flavorings

[Blueser]

Folks are always talking about ways to steep a mix or letting it sit for a period to let the flavors blend. I was just browsing around TPA and got to thinking why is it not necessary to consider any of these or other methods with the concentrate flavors used. Is simply shaking these flavors enough to blend the flavors before adding them to our mixes or is the molecular makeup of these flavorings already blended to their full extent.

TPA used a "Cola" flavor as an example of the different molecules/components that would make up this flavor. I was surprised at the list of ingredients...see Perfumer's Apprentice

 

[dannyv45]

Not quite sure what your asking but ithe flavors them selves which are made up of several flavor molecules is likely already blended to form the end flavor but these molecules need to also meld with the base once added.

Read my blog on steeping.

 

[Blueser]

Say for instance you have a very strong flavor. Would it be beneficial or detrimental to apply the same steeping methods to the flavoring itself prior to mixing. Would simply leaving it uncapped overnight be of any benefit or any of the above to speed the steep/blend

 

[Hoosier]

Ah, there's the mixup.

Steeping is a closed bottle sitting for a period of time out of sunlight to allow things to fully combine. Basically allow entropy to happen.

Airing-out, or Breathe, is an open bottle.... Allowing a bottle to Breathe helps to evaporate some alcohol out, which most TPA doesn't have, may allow some volatile flavoring notes to escape, and will help the nicotine to start oxidizing. So airing-out flavoring itself is most likely to just allow some of the volatile notes to escape, or weaken it.

I think the confusion of terms is the main issue with danny's confusion. It was the key to my confusion too.

 

[partyannimal]

Steeping does more than just blend the flavors. Some flavors need to steep in order to become the flavor they're meant to be. In other words, shaking the bottle like crazy and vaping right away is fine for some flavors, but other flavors will not taste the same on the first day as they will days, or even weeks after mixing.


Sent from the hand not holding my PV using Tapatalk

 

[tfnc]

en·tro·py [en-truh-pee]
noun
1.
Thermodynamics .
a.
(on a macroscopic scale) a function of thermodynamic variables, as temperature, pressure, or composition, that is a measure of the energy that is not available for work during a thermodynamic process. A closed system evolves toward a state of maximum entropy.
b.
(in statistical mechanics) a measure of the randomness of the microscopic constituents of a thermodynamic system. Symbol: S
2.
(in data transmission and information theory) a measure of the loss of information in a transmitted signal or message.
3.
(in cosmology) a hypothetical tendency for the universe to attain a state of maximum homogeneity in which all matter is at a uniform temperature (heat death)
4.
a doctrine of inevitable social decline and degeneration.????????

 

[Crunktanium]

What he means by entropy is the flavor spreading out to saturate the entire mix. If you put oil and water it floats it wont mix. Add a binder and it will mix but as the density is different one has to saturate the other to equal out.

Steeping is like fermenting except there is no fermentation per say it's just giving the molecules a chance to form tighter bonds. The better the bonds means the flavor is not mostly at the top or the middle or the bottom. It's equal for the most part in every drop because everything has fully saturated. Different molecules (flavors) will bond differently and some will require much more time to fully saturate a mix then others.

 

[dannyv45]

Everything you wanted to know about steeping and then some