CO2 experiment

[ChinaVoodoo]

This is long overdue.

I picked the crowfoot leaves (avg length 5") of my piloto in 2017 and cured them. They came out browny-olive green.

I completely soaked them in water and put them in a beer keg and filled the keg with CO2. I then put it in my kiln at 118°F for three weeks or so. I can't remember. It should have molded with how wet it was, but it didn't. It had a funky smell and became way darker. I dried it down to high case and kilned it for 6 months. And here we sit two years later.

Well, it's not bad and tastes like cigar. Wrapper is WLT Ecuador maduro.

 

[deluxestogie]

it's not bad

Not a ringing endorsement. For the equipment, work and wait, was it worth the effort?

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Not a ringing endorsement. For the equipment, work and wait, was it worth the effort?

Bob

Yeah. I mean I had the equipment. And my cigar leaf has never tasted like cigar proper until this, so it's kind of cool. I wonder if i can theorize that perhaps i haven't been using enough nitrogen or have been harvesting too late.

On the other hand, it might be a solution for playing around with larger quantities of green cured tobacco. Not that I need more tobacco.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

. Not that I need more tobacco.

Blasphemy.. just pure Blasphemy!

 

[burge]

Yeah. I mean I had the equipment. And my cigar leaf has never tasted like cigar proper until this, so it's kind of cool. I wonder if i can theorize that perhaps i haven't been using enough nitrogen or have been harvesting too late.

On the other hand, it might be a solution for playing around with larger quantities of green cured tobacco. Not that I need more tobacco.

I think one of the main reasons for not tasting like a cigar is our climate. That is 1000%. Before I got into leaf I was a pure ryo guy. That is why in being a purist want genuine tobacco. Just read up on Cuban leaf grown elsewhere it doesn't taste the same. Luckily in Canada we have been able to purchase Cuban cigars. US not sure if it is legal or if it is it was just changed. Tobacco grown outside its home area takes on soil conditions and gathers its taste from climate and growing conditions. I am kind of a tobacco snob so its important to get authentic tobacco.

 

[Charly]

Interesting experiment.
The cigar leaves from my home grown are different than commercial cigar leaves too.
My leaves are always more light, delicate, smooth. Some are very enjoyable, but I would love to get some more intense/robust flavors from them.

I have to say that some of my cigars are way better than a lot of commercial cigar I bought from shop, but if I could make them a little bit more flavorful, they would beat everything !

I did experiment with some unmature leaves, put in the kiln for some months, but the result was not very interesting...