Steeping Question

[bckane]

First I would like to thank ECF for such a great forum......
Ok going to make my first batch of ejuice, question about steeping
Do all flavors need to be steep.?
or is it just when you mix flavors.?
TIA
Brian

 

[Hoosier]

Do all flavors need to be steep.?

No. Try it right away. I would recommend steeping before mixing up a big batch to make sure that steeping does not change the taste you like into something unfavorable. I also recommend steeping if it is unfavorable right away too.

or is it just when you mix flavors.?

No, I have one recipe that is a single flavoring that requires steeping to taste good and the more it is steeped, the better it gets, but right after mixing it tastes like crap, but the vast majority of my recipes are great from the time the bottle is first shaken.

So try it right away and try it later and note what you taste and then you'll know.

 

[bckane]

Thanks Hoosier

 

[cskent]

My general rule is to vape it if it tastes good. If it doesn't, let it steep and you'll likely see an improvement. Steep times can vary though, some take a week, others take much longer. Certain flavors are also more prone to need steeping. Vanilla's, tobacco's, and more complex blends of flavors generally take the longest in my experience. More often than not, my single flavor fruits are good to go right after mixing.

 

[nosaint]

another question, (if you don't mind me piggy backing on this thread) I normally make up a large bottle of unflavored juice at my desired nic level (I'm dropping nic) then add flavor to individual clearo's a few drops at a time.

should I steep the flavors or does it need to be a complete mixture of pg/vg/nic/flavor for steeping to work? Any ideas?

 

[Hoosier]

I'd say if it isn't mixed, it hasn't started steeping yet.

I've never attempted to steep in anything that contains a wick either.

 

[nosaint]

I don't add the flavor until I'm ready to vape it. So 8 drops nic/pg/vg mix and 2 drops flavor then immediate vape. (Percentages may vary) (and I know drops aren't precise, but I'm easy)

Any idea what is going on during steeping? I assume some sort of chemical reaction, I've read that at least some of it is alcohol vaporizing.
edit: sorry a little more research here answered my question.

 

[Hoosier]

Since steeping in done in a sealed container I don't see how anything is evaporating out? You sure you haven't been confused by non-mixers who mistakenly think airing out is steeping?

Steeping is just allowing entropy to happen, nothing more. Most mixes don't need steeping and are not affected one way or another by it. So, if what you are doing is working for you, there is no reason to change it.

 

[~Sue~Feb2012]

When I first starting learning about DIY I mistakenly thought that mixes had to be put in a hot water bath for proper steeping. I don't usually want to deal with all that. Then I saw a few threads where some people refer to steeping and what they really mean is that they let the bottle sit on a shelf for a week, or more, up to a month to improve the flavor. I would call that "aging" (like fine wine.) In either case, I have found that most of my 100% VG eliquids do benefit and taste better after a week or more. Many tobacco flavors seem to need 3-4 weeks before they taste great, for me.
Just my

 

[Cyprus]

I taste new flavors as I get them by dripping then choose one to fill up a tank with. All the juice then goes to steeping & stays tucked away until I need a tank filled. When you start collecting more juice, you will find yourself ordering new flavors when you have so much left to vape still. All that time, the older flavors are getting better!

 

[steps24hoursaday]

maby it's just me but steeping or "aging" starts when the flavor is added. so your process of of mixing I don't add the flavor until I'm ready to vape it. So 8 drops nic/pg/vg mix and 2 drops flavor then immediate vape. alowes no time to steep you might find it much easer to mix batches with the flavor and leave out the NIC . then try it and tinker with it and make a batch to let sit and steep while giving it a 20 second shake every now and then you WILL be amazed at what the flavors do when they are left to mingle with each other NOTE that steeping takes extream WILLPOWER and is a learned art whitch paradoxically takes time to learn

 

[nosaint]

you might find it much easer to mix batches with the flavor and leave out the NIC . then try it and tinker with it and make a batch to let sit and steep while giving it a 20 second shake every now and then you WILL be amazed at what the flavors do when they are left to mingle with each other

Yep, I thought of that, but to date my flavors have been menthol, creme d'menth, blueberry, and Bourbon. I haven't had a problem, but I haven't mixed flavors. I have noticed that more work needs to be done on the Vanilla mixes I started to make 2 days ago and the other mixes I intend to make this weekend will probably be the same. Clearly I'm new to complex mixing.

 

[steps24hoursaday]

even the simple recipies will benifit from steeping since steeping is an art when i make any batch i always make 5ml's some for now(and i ALWAYS have some now) and some to let sit for a week or so steeping is a very important part of the DIY process so my thought to you is a challange; even though it tastes good now make enough to try now and to let some sit for a week and you will find that in doing so you will not just taste the flavors you will experance them (some to the extent that it will take you back to the point of when you first tasted it for the first time) :>):<)