It seems 'steeping' is used by people to mean various things. Is there a definitive answer? What are some different ways/meanings to steeping? Thanks for the info! 
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ever make a pot of chili, put it in the fridge
then the next day it tastes even better...
get your freshly mixed juice, let it sit around (steep) and blend together
it just gets ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so good...
then the next day it tastes even better...
get your freshly mixed juice, let it sit around (steep) and blend together
it just gets ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so good...
yep. Means letting your juice sit a certain period before using it. Like keeping a bottle of wine for a while and let it age a little. I won't get into the different "methods" because a lot of people have their steeping procedure they like to do.
It basically means allowing a custom-mixed e-juice some time to "age" or "mature".
Not all e-liquids require steeping. Simpler flavors like an Apple or Ice Menthol will not need steeping. Often the more complex flavors such as a coffee or tobacco flavor will benefit from some steeping for all the flavoring ingredients used to properly blend together as the mixologist intended.
When you get your new juices, take the cap off and smell the aroma of the juice. If it has a chemical, perfumey, or alcohol odor to it...leave the cap off for a couple of days to allow the alcohol base to evaporate. If the juice has no such odor, either choose to sample some or cap it, shake the bottle, and let it sit in a cool dark spot and allow it to age for about a week.
Many vendors will have a notice somewhere on their website whether their e-liquids need to steep or not.
Not all e-liquids require steeping. Simpler flavors like an Apple or Ice Menthol will not need steeping. Often the more complex flavors such as a coffee or tobacco flavor will benefit from some steeping for all the flavoring ingredients used to properly blend together as the mixologist intended.
When you get your new juices, take the cap off and smell the aroma of the juice. If it has a chemical, perfumey, or alcohol odor to it...leave the cap off for a couple of days to allow the alcohol base to evaporate. If the juice has no such odor, either choose to sample some or cap it, shake the bottle, and let it sit in a cool dark spot and allow it to age for about a week.
Many vendors will have a notice somewhere on their website whether their e-liquids need to steep or not.
It's all about "diffusion" of flavor molecules into their PG/VG base.
Freshly made to order and NET (naturally extracted tobacco) flavors usually require some time for all the flavors to marry. Other pre-made juices don't require any steeping at all--they are ready to be used straight from the bottle.
Airing out or breathing, described by Bad above, is not steeping--it's just allowing volatile molecules like alcohol to evaporate. Please bear in mind that exposing nicotine to air (and light) is not recommended; it will start the oxidation process and may make the nicotine taste bitter and/or change color. Take the caps off for a few hours only if your eliquid smells very boozy or perfumey. If it doesn't, just let it sit, with caps on, undisturbed, for a week or two in a cool dry place (no light and no oxygen).
Freshly made to order and NET (naturally extracted tobacco) flavors usually require some time for all the flavors to marry. Other pre-made juices don't require any steeping at all--they are ready to be used straight from the bottle.
Airing out or breathing, described by Bad above, is not steeping--it's just allowing volatile molecules like alcohol to evaporate. Please bear in mind that exposing nicotine to air (and light) is not recommended; it will start the oxidation process and may make the nicotine taste bitter and/or change color. Take the caps off for a few hours only if your eliquid smells very boozy or perfumey. If it doesn't, just let it sit, with caps on, undisturbed, for a week or two in a cool dry place (no light and no oxygen).
Pulled from another thread:
I'm new to vaping but I've read that steeping was an oxidation process, a reaction to oxygen in the air so I shake as rigorous as possible with the intent to create airbubbles coz I thought that might help with the steeping process.
Why is it better not to have airbubbles?
~Trail.
I'm new to vaping but I've read that steeping was an oxidation process, a reaction to oxygen in the air so I shake as rigorous as possible with the intent to create airbubbles coz I thought that might help with the steeping process.
Why is it better not to have airbubbles?
~Trail.
It also allows some of the stuff they use to cut the PG or VG to either evaporate off or change into a flavor alot less "chemically"
airbubbles don't really matter (in an active tank for vaping)unless you like "frothy" juice in your tank, airbubbles for steeping help oxidize the flavors to develop the flavor
airbubbles don't really matter (in an active tank for vaping)unless you like "frothy" juice in your tank, airbubbles for steeping help oxidize the flavors to develop the flavor
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Well, I have been shaking the bottles before I use them. Seems safer to do it than not. As far as letting it sit before using, that is hard to do, as I a too anxious to try new flavors. I have only been vaping about two weeks, so I guess if I try a bottle that I have had for a while, and it starts to taste different, I will have experienced the "steep". I just keep topping off my carts and tanks, so not sure how that will affect it also.
Steeping is all about allowing the flavors to open and diffuse in the base. Oxidation of nicotine is a bad thing--nicotine deteriorates when exposed to light and oxygen.
Shaking (or submerging bottles in warm water bath) may help with the diffusion process. You don't want (or need) air bubbles in you eliquid.
There's no hard fast rules to steeping. Feel free to try your flavors upon delivery. If they are acceptable to you, continue on. If not acceptable, don't give up on the flavor and throw it out. Put it away to try another day.
Most juices don't need steeping; and even those that do are also often vapeable right from the start--they may age and improve, but they may also age and get worse.
Just do what you like, experiment and have fun.BTW, if you're using Halo juices, they don't need any steeping whatsoever.
I'm a little confused on the terminology myself and I think it's because some use aging and steeping interchangeably.
The best I can figure:
"steeping" usually refers to letting it sit to mix good. I just warm it up in hot water in a coffee cup and shake it well when it's thin, OR set it somewhere exposed to vibration.
"Airing out or breathing" is opening to let perfume or alcohol flavor evaporate on some mixes.
"Aging" is letting the nicotine oxidize a little which some say improves the flavor. (tobacco flavors mainly?)
Is this correct?
The best I can figure:
"steeping" usually refers to letting it sit to mix good. I just warm it up in hot water in a coffee cup and shake it well when it's thin, OR set it somewhere exposed to vibration.
"Airing out or breathing" is opening to let perfume or alcohol flavor evaporate on some mixes.
"Aging" is letting the nicotine oxidize a little which some say improves the flavor. (tobacco flavors mainly?)
Is this correct?
Almost.
Steeping and aging are used interchangeably and mean the same thing.
I've never heard of letting nicotine oxidize to improve flavor--oxidation of nicotine degrades it, spoils the flavor and changes its color. Search for all the tips on long-term storage of nicotine--freeze in dark glass bottles--no light, no oxygen.
My sources:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ask-veterans/158262-steeping-explanation.html#post2594434
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/480721-steeping-flavors-2.html#post11004087
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From my own experience I don't thing any amount of steeping is going to help until the senses are back to a full function. Everything I have tastes muted right now. I am only about 10 days in and some flavors I did not like have been sitting and they still don't tastes right. For now about all I can taste is Licorice and candy cane so that is what I vape but even those taste muted. I think once the smell and taste come back things will get a lot better and may not have to steep anything. Or at least I hope.
I've let all my tobacco flavors steep and various others like coffee and some fruity blends. Initially they were good right after mixing... but after right amount of time steeping... WOW they really come alive! The flavor is intense!
Love walking into that dark place after caps have been off for a few days and smelling the aroma!
Most juices don't need steeping; and even those that do are also often vapeable right from the start--they may age and improve, but they may also age and get worse.
BTW, if you're using Halo juices, they don't need any steeping whatsoever.
Thanks for this! I've just entered the vaping world with a Halo G6/Triton and their line of juices, and was wondering if I needed to let them sit/steep. They sent a small business card warning saying that they lose flavor once exposed to the air, so I figured I shouldn't, but it's still nice to get a second opinion.
I respectfully disagree. I have many Halo juices, im a big halo fan (2 sampler packs and 9x 30ml bottles in my first 4-6 weeks), and all except maybe sub-zero taste quite different for me after at least 3 days of steeping, and after about two weeks they taste best imho... for instance:
Voodoo - Perfumy goes fruity and more flavors suddenly pop out.
Prime15 - Perfumy goes musky and I kind of sense the juice being rounded off to perfection after a week or two
Freedom juice - Chemical taste makes it into a nice round bassnote and some nasty chemical topnotes dissapear
Even Tribecca seems to get a little sweeter over time for me
When I refill my tanks I always shake my liquid and also try to shake a couple of other liquids, especially the newest ones..
The newest juices I open up to let some fresh air in before I close them up again and shake them up vigorously to help speed up the steeping process.. im only vaping for little over a month or so.. but it seems to work for me..
My latest juices are Nebula (Watermelon & Lychee) from 'Ben Johnson' and Juice #2 (Grape & Lychee) from 'Juice by Numbers'.. they where very vapable right out of the bottle.. have not yet had the chance to steep for two weeks..
I have a inkling feeling maybe fruit juices benefit less from steeping as opposed to tobacco's... only time will tell..
~T.
Search for "Vapers Tongue". It's a VERY common phenomenon, almost universal. Don't fret, it sucks while it lasts, but it will go away!
Edit: Sorry, might have misunderstood your post.
First, some flavors will never taste good to you.
Second, it's very rare for me that an e-liquid tastes like actually eating something. The flavor is there, and can be appreciated, but for me it's still more like appreciating a flavor and not like actually eating.
Third, different heads can make a HUGE difference in flavor. I started (this time) on TCC's like the Iclear16 and CE4's, but have found that the BCC's give me a much better flavor. I do like high-VG mixes, and don't care that much about/for throat hit. JMHO YMMV.
HTH!
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