The limits of extractions

[Aheadatime]

How much food out there is safe to extract? I have compiled a list of thing I've been interested in extracting for a week or two now, but haven't been able to pull the trigger due to the lingering doubt that maybe there are some chemicals/oils/acidic levels that I wouldn't want in my ejuice. Any help/experience would be appreciated. Heres the list -

- Dehydrated(DH) Blueberries
- DH Banana
- DH Apple
- DH Blackberry
- DH Grape
- DH Pear
- DH Mango
- Orange Peel
- Lemon Peel
- Vanilla Bean
- Cinnamon Stick
- Almonds/Cashews/Peanuts/Macadamia (unsalted raw)
- Raisins
- Honey (the raw stuff in solid state)
- Coffee (in bean or ground form, doesn't matter)


Edit - And by "extract", I mean to soak the materials in PG/VG until there is a color change, and strain accordingly. Heat may be applied, but I've heard from a more experienced member that this complicates things by either taking away flavor, adding in 'unwanteds', or both. Any experience with extraction methods for these kinds of foods would be welcome as well.

 

[Aheadatime]

Bumps for knowledge

 

[mecocina]

I haven't tried the food ones yet but they do sound interesting. Hmmm...I still have a few Madagascar vanilla beans left over when I made vanilla extract. I'll try that one. The dehydrated fruits usually have a lot of sugar so it may clog an atty. There may be less sugar if you use organic or dehydrate your own.

 

[Aheadatime]

I haven't tried the food ones yet but they do sound interesting. Hmmm...I still have a few Madagascar vanilla beans left over when I made vanilla extract. I'll try that one. The dehydrated fruits usually have a lot of sugar so it may clog an atty. There may be less sugar if you use organic or dehydrate your own.

This is what I was thinking. I vaped a vendor's chocolate mint some weeks ago and small white particulates started to appear in my tank. I thought it was either crystalized sugar or perhaps menthol crystals for the 'mint' aspect. I guess I'll just have to give these a shot myself since there seems to be very little response here. I have various teas soaking atm, which is a pretty common procedure, but I figured while I was at it I'd make a separate jar for dehydrated apple slices. I'll update this thread when I feel they're ready for vape tests.

 

[Skinny Pete]

Bacon? does this count? Beef jerky?

cocoa? real cocoa as used in chocolates?

 

[Aheadatime]

Bacon? does this count? Beef jerky?

cocoa? real cocoa as used in chocolates?

I'm not brave enough to go there yet lmao. I'll try the dehydrated fruit first before venturing into such potentially hostile territory.

 

[boomerdude]

Here's the thing, all of the different biological systems of the human body are closed except the digestive system. What we eat is partially broken down by bacteria in the digestive track. The respiratory system is a closed system and what we breathe is filtered for the most part. The smaller the particle that is inhaled the deeper the penetration into the system it gets. Vapor can get pretty deep into your respiratory system before the cilia can filter it into either flem that you cough up or absorbed moisture. These small particles carry whatever toxins and bacteria have managed to hitch a ride. So one needs to be extra careful in what goes in your juice.

Extraction is a risk unless you have the right equipment to properly sterilize your product.

 

[Aheadatime]

Extraction is a risk unless you have the right equipment to properly sterilize your product.

Your post makes sense. I've thought this through before even taking up vaping, and I had a hard time convincing myself that there was anything found in fruit flavors/artificial flavors/workplace settings that would be worse than city-polluted air or cigarette smoke itself. But I like to stay as clean as possible when working with vaping materials and the likes. I even considered using alcohol to extract flavors due to its natural antibacterial properties. Do you have any suggestions off the top of your head to ensure that my vape workplace/extraction methods remains as clean as possible?

 

[buffaloguy]

In my experience the only one on your list that will work is coffee.

I have tried fruits, dh fruits, peels, rinds, pulps, together and separately. The natural sugars are far too concentrated. Fruits must be distilled. Thats the only way to do it. Period.

You will have some success with cinnamon, and nuts. However the natural oils emitted from them will cause problems and the flavor concentrations extracted with or without heat will be sub par. I only tried these briefly. So have at em if you feel lucky.

Rasins are dehydrated grapes.... same as above. Honey... never tried it. Common sense tells me that the sugar content even in raw form requires distillation as well.

However, coffees, teas, herbs, flowers, tobaccos, fresh or dried work well as extractions.

 

[Aheadatime]

In my experience the only one on your list that will work is coffee.

I have tried fruits, dh fruits, peels, rinds, pulps, together and separately. The natural sugars are far too concentrated. Fruits must be distilled. Thats the only way to do it. Period.

You will have some success with cinnamon, and nuts. However the natural oils emitted from them will cause problems and the flavor concentrations extracted with or without heat will be sub par. I only tried these briefly. So have at em if you feel lucky.

Rasins are dehydrated grapes.... same as above. Honey... never tried it. Common sense tells me that the sugar content even in raw form requires distillation as well.

However, coffees, teas, herbs, flowers, tobaccos, fresh or dried work well as extractions.

Thank you for sharing, I really wanted someone who has tried this. How exactly do you distill? I tried googling and youtubing it but what I got was mostly wine/vodka related, which involved soaking fruits and sugar in alcohol and simply straining. There was also a few vids regarding essential oil distillation, but I didn't pay much attention as the guy was using pretty expensive gear and I've heard that essential oils are no-nos for vaping.

 

[boomerdude]

If possible, use only SS and glass. But that's all for naught if you don't have a proper filtration system. Without the proper techniques you'll lose a lot of flavor molecules. That's why the pro's juices taste so good. They have invested thousands of dollars in equipment and buy their molecules from the big flavor companies who have invested millions.

Your post makes sense. I've thought this through before even taking up vaping, and I had a hard time convincing myself that there was anything found in fruit flavors/artificial flavors/workplace settings that would be worse than city-polluted air or cigarette smoke itself. But I like to stay as clean as possible when working with vaping materials and the likes. I even considered using alcohol to extract flavors due to its natural antibacterial properties. Do you have any suggestions off the top of your head to ensure that my vape workplace/extraction methods remains as clean as possible?

 

[Aheadatime]

If possible, use only SS and glass. But that's all for naught if you don't have a proper filtration system. Without the proper techniques you'll lose a lot of flavor molecules. That's why the pro's juices taste so good. They have invested thousands of dollars in equipment and buy their molecules from the big flavor companies who have invested millions.

Surely there must be cheaper alternative methods for distilling flavors from fruits. I assume that most processes they undertake can be replicated in a similar fashion MacGyver style. I'm experimenting heavily with NETs, teas, and coffees, and fine-tuning my experiments every time I go back at it. I would assume that that the same can be done with real fruits, besides simply purchasing flavor molecules from TPA and experimenting for ages.

 

[boomerdude]

Well, sure there are cheaper approaches. But do you want to inhale something that may make you sick? That's the question.

Surely there must be cheaper alternative methods for distilling flavors from fruits. I assume that most processes they undertake can be replicated in a similar fashion MacGyver style. I'm experimenting heavily with NETs, teas, and coffees, and fine-tuning my experiments every time I go back at it. I would assume that that the same can be done with real fruits, besides simply purchasing flavor molecules from TPA and experimenting for ages.

 

[boomerdude]

I think I could have been clearer in my last post. I was speaking to the risks we are willing to take in DIY. I do my own extraction in an McGuyver way. I understand that most of us aren't willing to spend a lot of money on equipment. I guess what I wanted to say is, the risk you take is equal to the quality of your equipment and operating procedures.

 

[Aheadatime]

I think I could have been clearer in my last post. I was speaking to the risks we are willing to take in DIY. I do my own extraction in an McGuyver way. I understand that most of us aren't willing to spend a lot of money on equipment. I guess what I wanted to say is, the risk you take is equal to the quality of your equipment and operating procedures.

No harm done, I understood your post. I've been conjuring up concepts as far as extracting fruits and the like, and in the meantime I've been doing a great job with teas and tobaccos. This chamomile citrus tea extract I'm vaping right now is far exceeding expectations, but has a bit of a bite to it. Not sure that I want to get rid that bite though, kinda keeps me coming back for another hit lol.

 

[boomerdude]

One drop of apple cider vinegar per 5mls. should do it.



" Not sure that I want to get rid that bite though, kinda keeps me coming back for another hit lol. "

 

[SouthernBliss]

Have you read the NET thread? It does primarily deal with tobacco extraction but they have done scads of other things. I think best results have been with coffees and teas however. I know that tea seems pretty limited but having read around these boards a good bit there have been suggests with a really wide variety of tea types and flavors. I'm going to be trying some different things myself over the next couple of weeks because the boys are pushing for 100% VG all organic flavorings. I started part of an extraction process on some coco nibs last night just to see how it goes. Worst case I have a bag of coco nibs to eat since I only used a couple of tablespoons out of the bag. I started it with some everclear and will add the VG when it comes in.

 

[michaelsil1]

Have you read the NET thread? It does primarily deal with tobacco extraction but they have done scads of other things. I think best results have been with coffees and teas however. I know that tea seems pretty limited but having read around these boards a good bit there have been suggests with a really wide variety of tea types and flavors. I'm going to be trying some different things myself over the next couple of weeks because the boys are pushing for 100% VG all organic flavorings. I started part of an extraction process on some coco nibs last night just to see how it goes. Worst case I have a bag of coco nibs to eat since I only used a couple of tablespoons out of the bag. I started it with some everclear and will add the VG when it comes in.

I would stay away from the Alcohol use Propylene Glycol instead.

 

[darkstorm]

In my experience the only one on your list that will work is coffee.

I have tried fruits, dh fruits, peels, rinds, pulps, together and separately. The natural sugars are far too concentrated. Fruits must be distilled. Thats the only way to do it. Period.

You will have some success with cinnamon, and nuts. However the natural oils emitted from them will cause problems and the flavor concentrations extracted with or without heat will be sub par. I only tried these briefly. So have at em if you feel lucky.

Rasins are dehydrated grapes.... same as above. Honey... never tried it. Common sense tells me that the sugar content even in raw form requires distillation as well.

However, coffees, teas, herbs, flowers, tobaccos, fresh or dried work well as extractions.

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With my limited extraction experiments this is my experience too. Dried fruits, even if you dry them yourself, have large amounts of sugars that will actually be more prevalent than any flavor you might derive. I have concluded that most of the non aromatic ingredients must be distilled to have any practical use as a flavoring extract suitable for vaping.

 

[darkstorm]

I would stay away from the Alcohol use Propylene Glycol instead.

Alcohol is a more aggressive base than PG. Curious as to why you would advise against it?