Steeping - Is 2 weeks the magic number?

[BLUwazoo]

Hi,

I'm trying to understand the whole "steeping" thing. First of all, I do understand that we're not really "steeping. We're not soaking citrus fruits or other things into our liquid to impart the flavor. It is really about "aging" the juice, like you do with a wine.

So, I've been trying to follow the rules about steeping and have been giving everything a good "steep" for a week or two. I'll generally try the juice after the first week, and let it run for another week if I thought it needed more taste.

I can tell that most juices seem to improve after a week or two steeping. An exception seems to be those ultra-big producers like Alpha and Omega brands which, presumably, have already been well steeped before they were ever shipped out. I've always been able to vape my Omega Chronos straight from the store and it tasted fine. But most of the "boutique" brands that mix it up when you order the juice definitely seem to improve with age.

My question is, do these juices continue to improve after two weeks, or is that the limit? Do flavors keep improving after that? Also, is there some simple way to tell if a flavor will benefit from steeping or not? Is it just certain types of flavor that need to be steeped? What about the nicotine level? If I get down to 0 mg. nicotine, will there no longer be any reason to steep them? (I'm going down to 3 mg. now, so that day is coming soon!)

Thank you in advance for your input!!!

 

[Sandron419]

You are correct. Aging is the more accurate term. As far as the tine goes, that depends entirely on the juice and your tastes. I will say juices with sharp notes (citrus/sweets) become smoother and more well rounded with time in my experience. There is no rule of thumb as far as the time goes though. Also don't leave the top off. A lot of people will say otherwise but all that will do is allow dust and hairs and dirt to wind up in there.

 

[eyerhere]

If your juice tates perfumey or like alcohol leaving the top off for a day or 2 will help get rid of it. Just put it in a drawer or box to avoid contaminating.
There is no set time some juice is shake and vape and others can take a month or two before they are good. Tobacco flavors seem tontake the longest.
If it tastes good right out of the mailbox vape it if not put it away and try again in a week and so on.

 

[LMS62]

From my experience, fruit flavored juices tend to improve with 1 to 2 weeks steep time, but caramels and custards can take 3 or 4 weeks to reach their "flavor potential". I agree with the above poster in regards to leaving the cap off....if it seems to have the perfumy or alcohol smell, leaving the cap off for just a day or two (as long as it is stored where dust, dirt, etc won't get into it) seems to help.

 

[abpigdoc]

I saw an interview by the woman who runs Suicide Bunny. She found a bottle of some of her favorite juice behind a cabinet--6 months old at least--and said it was still getting better! I have Capella's CFB in my atty right now at least 7 mos old, and it took 4 months before it was any good at all.

 

[BLUwazoo]

You are correct. Aging is the more accurate term. As far as the tine goes, that depends entirely on the juice and your tastes. I will say juices with sharp notes (citrus/sweets) become smoother and more well rounded with time in my experience. There is no rule of thumb as far as the time goes though. Also don't leave the top off.

There is no set time some juice is shake and vape and others can take a month or two before they are good. Tobacco flavors seem tontake the longest.

Thank you! Very helpful!

 

[BLUwazoo]

From my experience, fruit flavored juices tend to improve with 1 to 2 weeks steep time, but caramels and custards can take 3 or 4 weeks to reach their "flavor potential". I agree with the above poster in regards to leaving the cap off....if it seems to have the perfumy or alcohol smell, leaving the cap off for just a day or two (as long as it is stored where dust, dirt, etc won't get into it) seems to help.

I saw an interview by the woman who runs Suicide Bunny. She found a bottle of some of her favorite juice behind a cabinet--6 months old at least--and said it was still getting better! I have Capella's CFB in my atty right now at least 7 mos old, and it took 4 months before it was any good at all.

Thank you!!! This makes sense to me. One of my favorites, Sunset Cavendish by Hurricane Vapor, seems to have continued to intensify, even though this bottle is well over three or four weeks old. I couldn't tell if my taste buds are still adjusting to being smoke free or if the juice really is getting better. It's got a strong caramel flavor on top of a mild Cavendish tobacco. I'm thinking now that it is still maturing in flavor.

 

[RAAng]

Personally, I rarely vape anything that isn't at least a month old, and that's a minimum. Some brands, AiV comes to mind, you just have to buy it and forget about it.

I started vaping in April '14 and I have juice from May and June that was OK then but is way better now. It is a pain, but there you go. Anything I get that I don't like I let sit for months and then try again. Usually it turns out to be pretty good. Vapor Chef is one vendor I've found that doesn't need a lot of steep and is even vapable out of the mailbox. Sometimes.

 

[john333]

I have a general rule of thumb. Taste test for a bench mark then let it sit for a week. If its a good liquid it should be vapable by then. If its still improving after a month I know its a liquid worth buying again and in a bigger quantity.

 

[GPC2012]

Depends on the juice.

 

[firephly]

the more complex the flavor profile the more it gets better with age, some things get the best after a month or even 3 months.

simpler flavors are good to go right away