Slow Cooker Extraction of Tobacco and Tea

[billherbst]

In my one extraction, I reached the filtering stage and became frustrated by what slow going it was. So, I took the now-soaked coffee filter out of the cone, shaped it into a liquid and tobacco filled ball, then twisted the top. As it became tight, I feared that the filter might break, so I grabbed a second filter and wrapped it around the first, again twisting the top. Then I held the ball portion in one hand above the bowl while grasping the tightly twisted top with the other hand. I slowly kept turning, tightening the tourniquet, in effect squeezing the juice through the filter. This way, I was able in about two minutes to quickly extract almost all the maceration liquid, only about 5mls shy of the 120mls of PG/VG used for the maceration.

I worried that the extract might be more heavily laden with particulates because of this "forced filtering" and could be a coil-killer, but that has turned out not to be so. Despite its deep auburn-brown color and smoky flavor, coils don't seem to have any trouble with liquids made from the extract.

 

[scarf-ace]

I think I mentioned that about the tea in the early posts of this thread...they expand so much that the gravity-filtering method isn't really practical. Disposable latex gloves are helpful to squish bunches of the tea leaves in your fingers. Kinda gross and very satisfying at the same time

 

[scarf-ace]

RANGERS IN PLAYOFFS!!!!

As you were.

 

[StereoDreamer]

I think I mentioned that about the tea in the early posts of this thread...they expand so much that the gravity-filtering method isn't really practical. Disposable latex gloves are helpful to squish bunches of the tea leaves in your fingers. Kinda gross and very satisfying at the same time

The first filter I do is through fine wire mesh strainer to get the solid plant material out. Then I run THAT liquid through the coffee filters. It seems to filter MUCH faster that way. I typically do three cycles through coffee filters, and each straining goes a little quicker, I assume because each time there are less particles in the liquid.

Straining extracts takes time. You can't rush it. If you force-filter these NETs you get all sorts of oils and bitter flavors, I have found. Pour the liquid into the coffee filters a little at a time. When a filter gets gunked up and won't let any liquid through for 10 or 15 minutes, change to a fresh filter. It might take 4 or 5 filters to strain 100ml of extract the first time through. Maybe 3 or 4 filters for the second straining. But by the last time through, you should be able to get 100ml through one or two filters.

Let gravity do the work. Pour some extract into a filter, and just walk away for 20 or 30 minutes. Take your time. It's worth the wait, to get gravity-filtered extract. The final NET will be MUCH smoother tasting, have fewer harsh flavors, and will not be as hard on your attys.

Also, I use the brown filters--unbleached paper--because they are less likely to tear and they won't impart off flavors from any residual chemicals from the paper bleaching process. Paper coffee filters are cheap--buy a bulk pack and don't be stingy with them. Change them often, and don't try to put more thn 30 or 40 ml through a filter the first run. They will gunk up quickly, and you DO NOT want to force those oils or solids through by squeezing them.

Good things come to those who wait, and this is especially true with this process... ;-)

 

[DeadPerfect]

interestimg.. thanks for the info!

 

[mecocina]

I think a nice tea/tobacco blend would be wonderful. I finished bottling the berry zinger and rooibos tea and made a tester. Now to let it steep for a bit. The berry zinger sure was dark red while the rooibos is amber colored.

 

[DeadPerfect]

This looks like it would be helpful for making NET

Two-Stage Stainless Steel Strainer
https://bellsbeer.com/store/products/Two%2dStage-Stainless-Steel-Strainer.html

basically have this hovering over a container with a coffee filter, and its all done in one step. mabey a dual coffe filter stage too.

 

[Aheadatime]

Do you get the WTAs with this method?

 

[DeadPerfect]

havent bought it. not sure if NET has wta in it though anyway...

 

[billherbst]

Do you get the WTAs with this method?

No, WTA is a much more complicated process---I seem to recall that it's a steam-distillation, but don't quote me on that, as that might just be a bogus memory-glitch on my part. In any case, macerated NETs are simple and easy. WTA is closer to making Tobacco Absolute and requires fairly sophisticated (and expensive) technology.

 

[Aheadatime]

No, WTA is a much more complicated process---I seem to recall that it's a steam-distillation, but don't quote me on that, as that might just be a bogus memory-glitch on my part. In any case, macerated NETs are simple and easy. WTA is closer to making Tobacco Absolute and requires fairly sophisticated (and expensive) technology.

Thank you, I was hoping that was the case as I'm not a WTA fan but I'd love me some legit tobacco flavoring. I'll have to experiment with some leftover tobacco from when I quit, and if it works out well I might end up buying some from LeafOnly.

 

[VaporMizer]

No, WTA is a much more complicated process---I seem to recall that it's a steam-distillation, but don't quote me on that, as that might just be a bogus memory-glitch on my part. In any case, macerated NETs are simple and easy. WTA is closer to making Tobacco Absolute and requires fairly sophisticated (and expensive) technology.

Now I haven't tried this and I'm not in any way recommending it, but just as interesting info I think there is possibly a way to do a fairly simple water extraction of WTA, based on hints in a now deleted post by one of the NET maker/vendors and my own online searches.

I won't post links because almost all the sites actually involve extracting illegal alkaloids from other plants...but it should work the same with tobacco. It would involve doing a low temperature water maceration (this part doesn't need to be cold temperatures, but I think the high temperature of a slow cooker might destroy the alkaloids), straining out the large vegetable matter, and then getting the remaining liquid very cold (but not freezng) and doing a cold water extraction (aka: cold water seperation, ice water seperation/extraction, etc.) by letting the cold liquid set undisturbed...most of the desired alkaloids will stay dissolved in the cold water while most of the unwanted stuff (leftover plant matter etc.) will sink to the bottom. Then filter while still cold (siphoning off the good stuff then filtering it might work better for tobacco).

Then the filtered water/alkaloid solution would need to be evaporated leaving mostly alkaloids....this is where it could get dangerous as far as nicotine levels are concerned. There would definately be a need to test nic levels and use a lot of caution. It would probably be safer to only evaporate partially, leaving as much water as practical while still being vapable after adding to a PG/VG base.

It wouldn't be fast or efficient or especially pure, but it would be a most natural method...no harsh solvents or additives, just water and tobacco.

 

[rolf]

hi scarf !
just got a slow cooker and 2 types of pipe tobacco ( two onces each )
would you do all in one batch or only do halv ot it ?
now can I use half pg and half vg for the cooking ? the reason is my nic juce is 36 mg but all pg and I like some vg in my final mix.
the other qwestion is how much in ml for the cook or just cover the tobacco ? how critical ?
I plan to use mason jars with covers loosely layed on top .
any ideas welcome
oooh jes thanks for a fantastic thread
rolf

 

[scarf-ace]

hi scarf !
just got a slow cooker and 2 types of pipe tobacco ( two onces each )
would you do all in one batch or only do halv ot it ?
now can I use half pg and half vg for the cooking ? the reason is my nic juce is 36 mg but all pg and I like some vg in my final mix.
the other qwestion is how much in ml for the cook or just cover the tobacco ? how critical ?
I plan to use mason jars with covers loosely layed on top .
any ideas welcome
oooh jes thanks for a fantastic thread
rolf

Hi Rolf!

You can use any combination of PG/VG for the cook. Bear in mind that the thicker the liquid, the longer it will take to strain...sometimes days.
I would probably start with a half-ounce of tobacco (15 grams or so). In the future you can make bigger batches.
I would just cover it until you have the sludge/porridge effect. You can always dilute it further later if you want to.
If I sound cautious, it is because I feel it is better to get a feel for it first before jumping into big batches. But once you discover how long to cook your personal tobacco mix, how many times to strain, how much to dilute, etc. then by all means go whole hog into the economy-size.

Good luck and let us know how it works out!

 

[rolf]

hi scarf !
thanks for your answer .
maybe I will use pg for the boil maybe I can find some vg in 36 mg
otherwise it is probably hard to come to 70-30 final mix . if not I could use a little less of the brew and add some other concentrated flavorwith vg. well I am79 now and thinking comes slower now . I let it all sink in and tomorrow is the test brew the mixing comes later anyway . first time I will cook it for 36 hrs straight without cooling inbetween since I am home anyway .
used to brew beer and now tobacco .....are we having fun jet ?
rolf

 

[mecocina]

I enjoyed this thread so much, I read it again LOL. I've been meaning to stop in the pipe shop near work. I want to do more blends

 

[rolf]

hi scarf!
well I did it !!! cooked up 2 different pipe tobaccos . one is filtered and the other does its thing now .
one is black Cavendish and the other a mild flavor .I used 15 mg of the tobacco and 70 ml of vg .the yield on the first batch is about 50 ml.
now my English you can make funn of my spelling but please don't insult my redneck filter tower !! ha ha every time I walk by it I start lougfing .
observations are ....at first it runs fairly fast...and then drasticly slows down in about 1 halv hour more than one third goas through ,then about 4 drops per second.then downhill from there . after three hrs very slow but there is quite a bit left .
when it is still hot its fast ...or is it the paper plugging ? as my first strain I used a small kitchen strainer with a couple of layers of cheese cloth worked great . here I was surprised , extra suqising don't yiels much it was fairly dry.
the top filter has more juce left then the bottom one so it is draining faster .so it is plugging faster on the first filter .
I just heywired this tower together with plastic one glass wine bottles to see how it works . it does !!
I will try a tower with cut glas bottles , mre refined w slide out trays and not as tall . maybe enclosed with hair dryer ,sealed. for heat and pressure. you see scarf you created a monster !!! o ja if you brew 2 flavors you ned two tower !!

 

[scarf-ace]

Rolf dude... I bow to your ingenuity! That is one awesome tower. If I weren't 100% certain my cats would upend it I'd try to replicate it

Have you tasted any yet?

 

[Sweeperdk]

This thread is awesome!

scarf-ace, I hope you don't mind me asking... Will this process work with tobacco-leaves as well?

I have a few different on order, and this method sounds really good to me. Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[scarf-ace]

This thread is awesome!

scarf-ace, I hope you don't mind me asking... Will this process work with tobacco-leaves as well?

I have a few different on order, and this method sounds really good to me. Any info would be much appreciated.

I have no idea if it works with whole tobacco leaves... never tried it. I have only used finely chopped commercial tobacco products.

Just for ease of use I'd imagine you would have to chop or shred the tobacco in order to soak it.

Do try it and let us know how it works