Make 2 identical 8ml mixes, label them. Speed steep one, and closet steep the other one. I do this as I'm learning, I can then compare them over time.
The Flavor Apprentice Flavoring Thread
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Make 2 identical 8ml mixes, label them. Speed steep one, and closet steep the other one. I do this as I'm learning, I can then compare them over time.
I extract tobaccos for my own use. I use my crockpot (older one) set on warm/hold. Temp registers on a meat thermometer ar 150-160. I want no higher than 140. I leave the lid slightly off and it lets enough heat out to keep the temp where I want it.
I am not sure if anyone is interested in this or not, but I have been using a coffee cup warmer to heat steep. Before that I was using the heater on a old coffee maker, I have tested the temp on both and they don't get any warmer that 140 degrees. 
KAS
KAS
I am not sure if anyone is interested in this or not, but I have been using a coffee cup warmer to heat steep. Before that I was using the heater on a old coffee maker, I have tested the temp on both and they don't get any warmer that 140 degrees.
KAS
I was thinking of getting one of those for times I don't want to run the ultrasonic machine. I'm sure I could come up with some kind of insulator to place between the warmer and the container to get the temp down. 140f is too high in my opinion and all the research that has been done, see link in my last post if interested in that topic. I do believe the ultrasonic waves help in melding the flavors, but a majority of what's going on is the WARMTH, also discussed in that very long thread.
The one I bought is from Brookstone it has 2 settings low and high. I have only used the high setting which is the one the gets to 140 degrees. I only use it for a few hours after mixing, just to help to get everything mixed really well, then just let it steep normally.
KAS
I do the same thing for small bottles & test batches. I have a small crockpot for larger bottles.I am not sure if anyone is interested in this or not, but I have been using a coffee cup warmer to heat steep. Before that I was using the heater on a old coffee maker, I have tested the temp on both and they don't get any warmer that 140 degrees.
KAS
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I wish I could taste Hangsen desert ship at 3%..if it's mixed fresh I can but the next day most of the flavor is gone for me...it's really frustrating...could it be vapors tongue when I haven't even went through 10ml?
It's not just Hangsen though I'm noticing it on most of my recipes and some recipes that aren't mine that get incredible reviews but it still happens, sometimes after 3 hits I notice it..am I the only one with this issue?
I know this is going to sound crazy but I'm a tobacco head to and i like a change every now and then to refresh the taste buds. So what you need to get is some FA Forrest fruit and some caps super sweet. That's the only 2 and it makes an amazing recipe but this is where it sounds a little coocoo..
FA Forrest fruit 15%
Caps super sweet 2%
Trust me on this it's not too much flavor..it's perfect.
Gotta have the super sweet though.
I'm going through a similar thing with trying to make a "caramel" dominant flavor juice. I'm using TFA Caramel Original. Working my way backwards to find the flavor, I finally just made a small sample with only that flavor and VG. I made it 20/80 pg/vg, with flavor at 10%. I barely taste it, day of as well as 2 days later. Most single flavors should not need much of any steeping.
So after lots of reading homework here and other sites, comments I've read are things like caramel and butterscotch are hard flavors to make as dominant mixes. Some have said TFA flavors vary a lot, flavor to flavor in terms of their percentages to use, while others have said that TFA flavors are not as "forgiving", meaning that too little or two much will yield LESS FLAVOR, and you have to spend more time experimenting to find that small working flavor percent window.
I'm not sure about all that I've read, but will keep experimenting with percentages in simple VG mixes till I find the flavor, then make the recipe.
That's what I do. Move the lid over slightly and stick a meat thermometer in the gap to keep an eye on the temp. It's around 150 with the lid closed all the way. A small gap gets it down to 140. You can get it down to 120 or less with a larger gap.
I have an unheated UC. Using really hot tap water it starts around 120 and slowly drops. It would probably maintain the heat better if I could close the lid but it's small and the lid won't close even over a 15 ml bottle. Given that heat is probably bad for juice that might be better than a crock pot. It runs for 30 mins at a time. Since the bottles are only around half submerged in the water I shake them regularly.
I don't even bother any more unless I'm trying multiple versions of a new recipe where I'm impatient to try it out. Normally I have a small tray on my computer desk with around 20 bottles of juice on it. It would take me months to clear the tray so I'm never in a hurry except with new recipes. I just stick new bottles on a shelf until I need them. Since they are all brown bottles I don't worry about keeping them in the dark.
I personally like to use a blend of TFA's caramels, and I think it makes a good caramel, I have been using it in one of my recipes for years. Here is how I use it.
4% TFA Caramel Original
3% TFA Caramel
1% TFA Caramel Candy
KAS
I personally like to use a blend of TFA's caramels, and I think it makes a good caramel, I have been using it in one of my recipes for years. Here is how I use it.
4% TFA Caramel Original
3% TFA Caramel
1% TFA Caramel Candy
KAS
I have all three of those. Unless the flavors have escaped the bottles, I can't taste these at TWICE those percentages. Last test was caramel original at 10%, with only VG. Read some single flavor percentages of it at 15%. I've keep the cap on tight, but even the smell is not as strong as the first time I opened that bottle. Thanks, but I'm at a loss to explain this latest setback in my juice making education.
I have all three of those. Unless the flavors have escaped the bottles, I can't taste these at TWICE those percentages. Last test was caramel original at 10%, with only VG. Read some single flavor percentages of it at 15%. I've keep the cap on tight, but even the smell is not as strong as the first time I opened that bottle. Thanks, but I'm at a loss to explain this latest setback in my juice making education.
I have no idea than, I mix those with AP, and brown sugar, so maybe those help with the caramel, I have never really tried them stand alone though, only in a mix of several other flavors.
KAS
I have no idea than, I mix those with AP, and brown sugar, so maybe those help with the caramel, I have never really tried them stand alone though, only in a mix of several other flavors.
KAS
Yeah, as mixers they excel. Most of what I've researched and read claim a STAND ALONE caramel is a tough recipe, that's why they are hard to find, and I've looked. Granted, most of my flavors are TFA. But I've read countless posts of mixers trying every brand of caramel flavors, with no success stories.
About the only caramel I can really taste, is the one I got from MT Baker (flavoring)
BTY, Mt Baker isn't selling any flavoring right now... whether they do again or not, I don't know.
Luckily "Salted Caramel", is a real flavor from FW.
Search results for: 'Salted Caramel'
In any case, I used it solo at 18%, and it's yummy ... so I bought a 4 oz bottle of flavoring from FW
FW recommends using 15%, and that should be fine, but since my taste buds suck, I upped it to 18%.
The flavoring is also sweet enough solo, without adding any sweetener (for me)
FA has a fair caramel too.
The TFA's caramel just doesn't do it for me.
I use a lot of TFA, ... but one company does not have the best of every flavor.
I just recently started getting some FW flavors, after I got them I found that I had a small bottle of The salted caramel already, that I had forgotten that I had. I also found a bottle of Toffee Dream Cream, I have no idea what I bought them for though.
I guess I should give them a try now though. KAS
For anybody looking for a true caramel flavor,maybe check out Real flavors caramel.I haven't tried that flavor from them yet,but all their other flavors i have tried are spot on to what they are supposed to be,so may be worth a shot.
I like FW Caramel Candy. I use it at 12% stand alone and also add it to a ry4 at 4% for a friend if mine. It is pretty sweet.
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