Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 21 to 28 of 28

Thread: Curing tobacco leaf....phase I

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mrtr33 View Post
    I mean, what happens now? Jamie, I'm guessing your kiln is another tool to get the leaves to cure, correct? If not, am I going to have to build a fucking kiln next? What am I supposed to be doing now? What leaf did you smoke, and how was it?

    I need some cupcakes.
    Looking good!! I've noticed the leaves I harevested a little early are taking much longer to change color also.
    Yes, initially to help me get the color cure finished, then to ferment the leaf with heat.
    No, you don't have to ferment the leaf, so you don't have to build a kiln.
    Enjoying the experience.
    Long red, and really, not too bad.

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    around
    Posts
    2,861
    Blog Entries
    16

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ashauler View Post
    No, you don't have to ferment the leaf, so you don't have to build a kiln.
    So.....theoretically, I could start rolling once I have enough shriveled up leaves (that aren't completely dried out, obviously!)?


    Age Quod Agis

    1 Strike

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    Well, yeah, you could. The long red leaf that I sampled had been sweated in a plastic bag for about 3 weeks.....a type of fermentation. It was definitely "sick" if you want a comparison to draw from....sweet, grassy, but not too harsh. It needs more time. Either longer fermentation or significant aging imho. I won't be rolling any cigars for a few weeks yet.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    19 58.7N 75 49.4W
    Posts
    1,893

    Default

    Bad ass thread guys. Love the pics. It makes me want to go tour a cigar factory.

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    Photo's from yesterday evening.

    It took me about 3 hrs to rewire all the leaves and take the photo's. I took the opportunity to remove the coat hangers from some of the leaves and hang them in the kiln in hopes they would finish the color curing process so I could move on to the drying phase with a portion of the crop. Hopefully, by the time all the leaves have color cured, I will have enough dried leaves to start the fermentation process right away.

    Florida Sumatra harvested on 29 August and pile cured until 5 Sept:


    Florida Sumatra harvested on 21 August and air cured only (my apologies for the photo quality):


    Argentina, harvested on 9 Aug and air cured:


    Argentina harvested 21 Aug and air cured:


    Argentina harvested 29 Aug and pile cured to 5 Sept:


    Long Red Leaf harvested 6 Aug...hung, then bag sweated for 3 weeks (this is what I've sampled). Keep in mind these were just junk leaves picked for the hell of it:


    Long Red Leaf harvested 21 Aug and air cured:


    Long Red Leaf harvested 21 Aug and pile cured to 29 Aug then hung:


    Long Red Leaf harvested 29 Aug and air cured:


    Long Red Leaf harvested 29 Aug and pile cured to 5 Sept:


    Small Stalk Black Mammoth harvested 21 Aug and air cured:


    Small Stalk Black Mammoth harvested 21 Aug and pile cured to 29 Aug:


    More photo's in my albums if you care to take a peek. Thanks for looking.

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Progress 25 Sept

    Some pics from yesterday.

    Black Mammoth:




    Florida Sumatra:




    Argentina:

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Key West, FL
    Posts
    1,474

    Default

    Looking really nice Jamie and Mark!

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    7,539
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default

    O.K., phase I of the curing process, for me, is complete. All of my leaf has color changed, though there is a tiny bit of green remaining on a few of the first leaves harvested.

    Now comes the fermentation phase. 3-4 weeks away from producing the first cigars.

    What I learned for next year:
    Pile curing is the way to go in my conditions.
    There is much more time and regular attention required to prevent disaster in this phase.
    Harvesting early drastically affects the curing process.
    Big leaves are cool looking, but difficult to handle when hanging and moving it around.
    Don't try to handle crispy dry tobacco.

    Thanks for looking.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •