Tobacco processing

[ashauler]

Fermentation shouldn't need sunlight. I would try it in a small cooler with a stone on top of the leaves pushing them down. If your set on doing the bag, grab a packet or two of silica gel out of a package or two of beef jerky. It will help keep the moisture down when the leaves heat up. Plus you get to eat a couple of packs of beef jerky.


Edit: and by small cooler I mean just big enough to close with the tobacco and stone in it.

I'm after the heat, not necessarily the sunlight. I could accomplish the same thing on top of the water heater, it would just take longer. I like the idea of the bag simply because the contents will be visible at all times. That way I can see the build up of moisture in the bag and take appropriate action quickly.

[nhcigarfan]

Makes sense to me.

I expect barber-pole baseball bats and chili peppers rolled to rival the flavors of Pepin and with the rolling skills of Fuente.

[TravPSU]

By your estimation, or guess, how many cigars do you think you can get out of the leaves you have?

This is a really cool project and I am glad you are sharing it with us. Keep up the good work!

[ashauler]

By your estimation, or guess, how many cigars do you think you can get out of the leaves you have?

This is a really cool project and I am glad you are sharing it with us. Keep up the good work!

Let's see:
4 plants of wrapper tobacco (florida sumatra)
8 plants of filler/binder tobacco

Really, I have no idea, but I would suspect around a dozen if everything works out just right.....1 cigar per plant, maybe, though some experienced growers and rollers say 3-6 cigars per plant.

It takes somewhere around 6 to 8 half-leaves, 18" in length, of filler/binder tobacco and one half leaf of quality wrapper to produce one 6.5 x 50 ish cigar....or so I'm told.

[Roger]

It simply amazes me just how much work and effort goes into producing these cigars. It is no wonder that they are not even more expensive than they are. I am looking forward to hearing how they finally turn out. It would be interesting to see your review your own cigar along with a few others. Good luck with the process. Roger.

[buzz]

Once you get those bad boys rolled up I have some ideas for custom bands for you...



or maybe...



-Buzz

[ashauler]

Hmmmmm, buzz, I'm thinking you have hit on a contest idea for me. Wonder what kind of "label stock" could be had that would allow these to be actually printed and used as bands.

ETA: answered my own question in record time. http://www.onlinelabels.com/cigars/cigar-labels.htm