AmaxB- Flue Curing Tobacco at Home: Wins & Fails

[DGBAMA]

May have learned something from my "salvage run" from two weeks ago. Due to pest and weather damage i harvested a whole patch, mature or not to get what i could save; mixed varieties and all. Frankly results sucked. Yellow, gold, green, brown......you name it i had it. I crammed it all to the back of the chamber and started a new run in front of it. the new run came out nice. The "salvage run" i was planning on shredding, mixing, and kilning for 30 days hoping to have something smokable. Completing a second cycle has resulted in a mixed bag. ALL is better. The second cycle did enough good that i will kvarieties separate instead of just mixing and hoping for the best..l

 

[jekylnz]

You never know after a bit of kiln and maybe some time to age you should be able to use it blended with the Better stuffI think when we're still working the kinks out you would be better keeping sizing and thickness of leaf similar so the yellows more consistantAnd not so hard to control...with all the subtle temp. Changes and climbs needed when leaf is all different

 

[DGBAMA]

You never know after a bit of kiln and maybe some time to age you should be able to use it blended with the Better stuffI think when we're still working the kinks out you would be better keeping sizing and thickness of leaf similar so the yellows more consistantAnd not so hard to control...with all the subtle temp. Changes and climbs needed when leaf is all different

As a first time grower and with the weather we have had in S.E. USA this season i feel blessed to have the results i have gotten.

 

[Knucklehead]

As a first time grower and with the weather we have had in S.E. USA this season i feel blessed to have the results i have gotten.

Amen to that brother.

 

[jekylnz]

As a first time grower and with the weather we have had in S.E. USA this season i feel blessed to have the results i have gotten.

And soo much more satisfying knowing you grew it...and put 90% less $ into doing it...you'll have it sussed next year then..if you've come this far for your first season. .be an old cure master in no time.lol

 

[bonehead]

it's been a while since you posted about any more loads. are you done flue curing this year? just wondering because this is one of the posts that makes me think and plan or ponder what i might try to put together for next year. with all your experiments i can only wonder where this will go and evolve into.

 

[DonH]

Amen to that brother.

You guys have such a long growing season and grew so many plants I knew you would be alright. Tobacco plants are pretty tough.

 

[workhorse_01]

A lot of my plants are 8' tall now and I just 1st primed some of them.

You guys have such a long growing season and grew so many plants I knew you would be alright. Tobacco plants are pretty tough.

 

[AmaxB]

You guys have such a long growing season and grew so many plants I knew you would be alright. Tobacco plants are pretty tough.

You got that right, I think I will need to dig half of mine up the roots are insane.

it's been a while since you posted about any more loads. are you done flue curing this year? just wondering because this is one of the posts that makes me think and plan or ponder what i might try to put together for next year. with all your experiments i can only wonder where this will go and evolve into.

Am stem drying my last load for this year now.

A lot of my plants are 8' tall now and I just 1st primed some of them.

You got ta get a move on...weather is changing here fast...good to hear the kids are big & tall

 

[AmaxB]

Should add something here I think, it has been awhile.
All 14 varieties have been cured for months, I did ferment the Big Gold and it mellowed nicely. Has a nice aroma and I did smoke some after fermenting and than put about 12 pounds of it up (frog legged) in a sealed tub. Have not touched it from that point on. Gonna leave it awhile aging.
The leaves are large and thin with fine veining. Will make a great cigar wrapper, it was spicy when I smoked some but still had a slight edge. Next month I might ferment one or two more varieties and will post my thoughts on those.

 

[Knucklehead]

What process are you referring to when you say fermenting?

 

[AmaxB]

Forced fermentation Knuckles

 

[Knucklehead]

Kilning?

 

[AmaxB]

Kilning?

Yes Kiln.

 

[AmaxB]

OK so I grew some African Red 2013 cured it in my chamber and than it set bagged all winter and spring. about 2 months ago I took it, Kutsaga 10, and some dark air put them in my tubs with moisture. I than stuck them in the kiln and they had been there until today at about 120F. I checked moisture now and than to date and at 30 days I sampled some and decided to let the tobacco go longer to see if it would improve. Now at about 60 days Plus Minus I am smoking some of the African Red and it has become more mild, has a better flavor, and is very smooth with a nic kick.. The Dark Air smells really - really GOOD!
I am currently removing the stems from the African Red and bagging it air tight with the grow kiln info written on the bags - I'll be putting it up for safe keeping and try it again in a few more months. After finishing the African Red I'll move on to the Kutsaga 10 and the Dark Air. I'll sample and post what I think about it.
Just a quick note: The Flue cure chamber became the kiln last fall after curing my grow, it has run non stop from that point in time, and for heat the little griddle has worked out great. After emptying it today a new batch will go in..... and be removed early to mid September. (about 5 weeks)
Just made another smoke with the A.F. to puff before getting back to work - I like the smooth kick.

 

[AmaxB]

Just tried Stalock 17 not as good as the A.F. but is OK...

 

[DGBAMA]

Thanks for updating. I have my first AR flue curing this week..

 

[deluxestogie]

An idle flue-cure chamber just cries out to be used as a kiln. My Cozy Can followed that same dark path, until a few weeks ago. The annual flue-curing season lasts only a few weeks.

Bob

 

[AmaxB]

My the Gold Leaf Gods Be With you Bama. Am smoking some of the A-56-N now, I like it nice taste, smooth, and smells great. This tobacco is about a year old now and fresh out of the kiln (force aged 8 weeks).
What do you mean DARK Path, Hell deluxe it is great to have something to put the finishing touches on with. I have gotten lots of practice over the last year and the box wants a day off but that just won't happen.

 

[AmaxB]

A short video demonstrating my preparation of the tobacco leaf that I kiln..
.

For more on this I created a thread a while ago see it here - http://fairtradetobacco.com/threads...the-Process-and-Why?highlight=kilning+tobacco

This is very simple to do, but you must learn the feel of the tobacco. That is to say does it feel to wet or to dry. Once you know the feel you will not need to check the tobacco very often. When it feels right you can pretty much leave it alone to age. Venting the tub to relieve gases can be done as little as once a week.