Steeping is overrated

[Chefbrent]

I see people always talking about steeping. I've learn from my 5 month of vaping, if I don't like a juice when I first get it, I won't like it after steeping. To me, steeping just mallows the flavor over time. So if you like the flavor, but it's too strong, then steeping might work.
I've notice if someone post they dont like a juice, people always tell them to steep it for a couple of weeks. All the juices I like are good right out of the mailbox. That's just my 2 cents on the subject of steeping. Thanks

 

[Baditude]

Sorry, but I beg to differ.

A lot depends upon where you get your juice from. I've had some juices that required no steeping, they were the same when tested upon delivery and the same 2 weeks later. I have no way of knowing, but I suspect these juices are made in large batches and cut into smaller bottles to wait on the shelf until they are shipped out on an order.

I've found that the juice vendors that do custom orders will generally benefit from 1-2 weeks of steeping. These vendors will ask what pg/vg ratio you want, extra flavor, add sweetness, add menthol, etc. These juices are made from scratch at the time of your order. Vendors that make their juices with organic flavoring (ie Virgin Vapors, Vaperite) also will benefit from steep time.

An excellent example of this is the Organic Kona Velvet Milkshake from Virgin Vapors. The very first time I tried this flavor, it was upon delivery. It was quite unpleasant, actually. But, I had read here on ECF how to steep juices. I allowed the bottle to "breathe" with the top off for a day, and then re-capped it and let it sit for 2 weeks. I tried it again, and it was hard to believe this was the same e-juice. It became my all-time favorite flavor and it is never out of stock in my home.

 

[Chefbrent]

I understand everyone's taste buds are different. And as I said, if I don't like a juice at first, I never like after steeping. All it did was mellow out the flavor. But I've only tried 50-60 juices from 7-8vendors. Maybe some vendors it's better to mellow out the flavor. I don't know. Steeping just doesn't work for me.

 

[tnt56]

I totally agree with Baditude on the steeping part. But if you feel the way you do then enjoy the juice and vape happy. I have a long ritual for my steeping that most think is more strange than me. But what works for one won't work for another.

 

[jimrug1]

I agree w/ Baditude. It depends on the juice and the vender. And your right, If you don't like the basic flavor of a juice when you receive it, you may not like it any better after it steeps.

Steeping does mellow out a juices flavors however. Some freshly made liquid will benefit from letting some of the "volatiles" of mixing evaporate out. I have found some that are quite overbearing when I first vape them but become quite tasty after a week or so. Also, a case could be made that the flavors of an enjoyable juice will be enhanced after steeping through slight evaporation and concentration of the liquid. All in all, if you have liquid to vape, it certainly doesn't hurt to steep the ones you have lying around.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Steeping is hit or miss with me. I ordered some BWB juices and noticed that the strawberry had a distinct chemical taste that went away after a week of steeping. On the other hand, I went to NW Vapors and had them make some juices. The chemist/mixer told me to wait for 24 hours before use, "to let the mix settle and blend." Those were blended for me in-house while I waited. Those needed no steeping time. I had to add the "born on" date, but suffice it to say, their flavors are all blended in house at the time of order. In fact, the owner told me that he noticed anything that sat around for over a year became mostly unvapable. He has his employees search the blending room once a month to throw out any bottles of mixed liquid/mislabeled stuff, etc. just so none of it is ever accidently sent to his customers.

 

[Rule62]

I make all my own juice, so steeping is essential, for me. I don't vape any of my juice for at least a week; often longer, depending on the type of juice. I let tobaccos go at least 2 weeks. I agree that steeping won't magically make a bad juice good. But it will make a good juice better.

 

[tnt56]

Think of steeping as the same as making a big pot of stew or chili. It's ok the first time but when the flavors have a chance to blend together then they are wonderful. Let em sit and blend together for a while.

 

[Los Marauder]

I have read from chemists, and culinary folks here that steeping is a real process and does do something to the taste. Flavor companies respond differently too to steeping. I DIY Capellas and it doesn't need any steeping. Other can benifit greatly. If you don't like a juice though even after steeping, get rid of it or give it to someone on ECF that can't always aford juice. Bad tasteing juice leads to analogs.

 

[JudeD]

While I don't think steeping is necessary for all custom made juices (some taste just fine fresh from the mailbox), there is definitely a big difference in flavor with most juices after they have sat for awhile. I have had juices that I didn't like at first taste but enjoyed a lot when I tried them again weeks later. Even the color changes on some juices as they steep. My all-day vape darkens in the bottle over time. Some juices have alcohol in the flavoring and leaving the cap off for a few days lets the alcohol evaporate and totally changes the taste of the juice. If a new vaper asked me if they have to let their juice steep before using it, I would say no because it won't hurt them to use it straight out of the box, but I can't agree with you that steeping is overrated. Some juices won't change enough to make you like them later on, but some definitely improve after steeping.

 

[JD1]

..... To me, steeping just mallows the flavor over time. So if you like the flavor, but it's too strong, then steeping might work. ........

Steeping seems to be a mixed bag for me. I've rescued a couple of juices that were a little perfumey to start but were fine after a couple weeks of steeping. By and large though, I agree--if I don't like it fresh, I'm probably not going to like it after steeping. But I have several mixes that I like fresh, but like even better after steeping a few days. As you say, they just seem to mellow a little and the flavors come together better.

 

[Riff Raff]

My two cents. My custom made juices I like on arrival however letting them steep for a couple of weeks gives me the taste that I bought the juice for. It's not that I didn't or don't like it but for me it is much better steeped.

Baditude = Spot on

 

[Mr.Mann]

The whole legitimacy on steeping vs. non-steeping has to do with what vendor you are using. If you are using a vendor that is a large scale DIY vendor and they have their juice sitting around on shelves for Lord knows how long, then they are already, essentially, pre-steeped. So, if a juice comes to you pre-steeped, you can't exactly say that juices don't benefit from steeping. 98% of the juices I buy change drastically, not a little, from steeping!

It would be really beneficial for you to point out which juices you are talking about that you have tried that don't benefit from steeping.

 

[Kable]

Yeah, it depends on the juice, for sure. I got some radiator pluid, and tried it right away. I thought it was disgusting. The anise flavor was just too strong. I couldn't stand to vape it. I let it steep for a week, most of that time with the cap off, and would shake it up a couple of times a day. I tied it again, and the anise had faded a bit and the citrus notes were more noticeable. I actually enjoyed it. Other juices haven't changed as dramatically for me, but I have noticed that the more subtle flavors seem to come alive after steeping.

 

[PLANofMAN]

From what I've read, the color change is from oxidation either of the PG or the nicotine. I can't remember which or it might even be both, but the color change has less to do with any changes in the flavor than you might assume or think. I agree that alcohol evaporation probably plays a major role in taste changes.

Has anyone liked a flavor right off the bat, and then not liked it after letting it steep?

 

[Jen Sartre]

Steeping doesn't help much for me either, but over time it will enhance the flavor some.

 

[thrillcaptain]

Basically, not every element from every flavoring used will be in a stable suspension with the PG/VG in your bottle. Steeping allows the parts of the flavoring that do not mix in fully to evaporate. Some (read: most) liquid will greatly benefit from this; these elements of the flavor are usually the strongest when vaped initially. As said, some liquid has already sat for a while, so you may not notice much of a change.

IMHO Fruit flavors benefit the least, tobacco flavors the most. BUT, if it's good liquid, it should taste good fresh as well as steeped. Steeping is not magic, and if it's bad when you get it it's not going to be Ambrosia in a week.

I couldn't imagine getting a package of vapemail only to let it sit there and taunt me for days, weeks even.

 

[Rule62]

Has anyone liked a flavor right off the bat, and then not liked it after letting it steep?

No, I can't say that I've ever had a juice that I liked less after steeping.

 

[budynbuick]

I had my dear wife put two bottles of Dekang Vanilla & put one in the jewelry cleaner for 6 hrs & I did not know which was which. I tried them both & the one that had been steeped was a very noticeable difference. I realize it was only one test but I really could tell a big difference. It convinced me not only that steeping works, but that one can speed up the process with sonic steeping.
Keith (mad scientist)

 

[Grimheart]

An excellent example of this is the Organic Kona Velvet Milkshake from Virgin Vapors. The very first time I tried this flavor, it was upon delivery. It was quite unpleasant, actually. But, I had read here on ECF how to steep juices. I allowed the bottle to "breathe" with the top off for a day, and then re-capped it and let it sit for 2 weeks. I tried it again, and it was hard to believe this was the same e-juice. It became my all-time favorite flavor and it is never out of stock in my home.

I had the same thing happen. Everyone raved about how good this flavor was and I hated it out of the mailbox. When I was running low on juice a month later I HAD to use it and fell in love with it. I do test most bottles I get and if it taste fine I go ahead and vape it. I have some watermelon from DnD vapor and it was so good I have almost finished the whole bottle with zero steeping.