Steeping Questions

Status
Not open for further replies.

Rat2chat2

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 16, 2013
11,843
54,511
North Carolina
This has not been the case with the juices that I have made where I though they were to strong in flavor. I ended up diluting them down with unflavored nic juice that I ALWAYS have on hand. Here is a combining calculator if you wanted to just dilute them down with vg or pg. It would decrease the nic but could turn into a very nice night time juice. It is a shame to waste it. (there is no way I would) You could even add it to another juice and create a whole new flavor. Some of my best juices have been "mixstakes". This is just what I would do.

DIY E-Liquid Calculator With Ten Flavors
JC_link.gif


Good luck. Other may have better solutions or more information. This is just based on my own mixing experiences.
 

Armchair Alchemist

Full Member
Feb 19, 2015
58
31
Michigan
Can you throw us up a recipe that went bad? If we know the flavorings, brands and the percentages it would help.

Or are you talking about a "ready-mixed" liquid you bought that tastes too strong?

10% Org. Strawberry CAP
4% Sweetener TFA
2% Sour

Just tasted like chemicals. Real bad. I was just wondered if mixing stronger flavor percentages was a practice for those who steep for long periods. It was a hunch.
 

Armchair Alchemist

Full Member
Feb 19, 2015
58
31
Michigan
I haven't tried 2-3% for Org. Straw. yet. But I did try it with Blueberry Pomegranate (CAP) and Cherry Blossom (CAP). I was surprised that these flavors got very strong in these ranges. I have seen so many things on the Internet about how DIY e-juice can fall short of premium e-juice standards when comparing the strength of flavor and sweetness departments. I know because I went looking when my recipe failed. I can taste the flavors at the 10% range, but they vaguely taste like chemicals and the sweetness can barely get very sweet no matter how supra lose is added.

Anyway, I still have a hunch that concentrates will subdue as they steep—at least a little bit. I'm sure that we would find the ingredients in our juice don't mix so thoroughly on the microscopic level.

I wouldn't even be asking this question if I knew what happens when steeping occurs. I bet a Google search would find me the answer.
 

Armchair Alchemist

Full Member
Feb 19, 2015
58
31
Michigan
NoT to derail the thread, but I recently found out that alkalinity can affect taste and I did find that to be true. The best flavor, as told by the "Innanet," is seen in a juice with a neutral pH balance. I even found someone saying that adding 1 drop of lemon or lime juice for every 10ml is what he does. I think it works.

Apparently, VG and PG are naturally alkaline. I'll buy some test strips on Amazon.
 

Armchair Alchemist

Full Member
Feb 19, 2015
58
31
Michigan
As told by Dr. Kurt Kistler:


• Steeping is the introduction of air (or oxygen) to eJucie.
• This allows a process of oxidation to take place in the compounds that are in a state that will react to the introduction of oxygen.
• The process of oxidation will produce oxides into the fluid, however these are not dangerous.
• During the oxidation process, components that are more volatile evaporate out of the liquid. This can change the nature of the flavor of the eJuice.


I now believe flavors do become subdued when steeping occurs; some probably more than others. Dr. Kistler said the more volatile components of the liquid evaporate when steeping occurs.

However, it still may not be advantageous to add extra flavor for the steeping process. I guess that will have to be tested.

I own a hand-held milk frother I picked up from Bed Bath and Beyond. I will now be using that to get air bubbles into my juice for steeping.
 

Shirtbloke

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Apr 26, 2014
966
957
UK
I own a hand-held milk frother I picked up from Bed Bath and Beyond. I will now be using that to get air bubbles into my juice for steeping.

I use a milk frother as well and it does seem to speed up the steeping, though I'm not sure if it's because of getting air into the mixture or it's because it does a really good job of mixing the ingredients and breaking down the existing bonds so that new bonds can be formed between the PG/VG/Nic/Flavours.
 

Armchair Alchemist

Full Member
Feb 19, 2015
58
31
Michigan
I use a milk frother as well and it does seem to speed up the steeping, though I'm not sure if it's because of getting air into the mixture or it's because it does a really good job of mixing the ingredients and breaking down the existing bonds so that new bonds can be formed between the PG/VG/Nic/Flavours.

I think juices mix, oxidize, and the volatile components evaporate. If this is true, then letting the juice breath like a bottle of wine is a proper step in steeping. Getting air into the mix helps with oxidization. Your frother does speed things up. It mixes and oxidizes your juice.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread