Infusing Flavor Into Tobacco

[MAKCuMG]

What are some of the different ways to infuse flavor into "dead" or "dying" tobacco. I know a few people from this forum have started their own lines of tobacco, and a few more have experimented with it.

Just received 250 g of Golden Alfakher Esk. Apple with an exp. date of 2006 from a trade . Smokes fine for first 10 min, then the flavor dies. Is there anything I could soak it in, or something else to do. I know glycerin adds to the amount of smoke, and that honey makes for a sweeter smoke, but is there anything to do to enhance or even infuse flavor into tobacco.

If anyone knows, please contribute .

[Scoop]

can anyone read arabic on this forum? i really want to know if thats the packaged date or the expiration date.

i still really think its the packaged date.

and ive never had any golden AF that tasted bad or had lack of taste, even ones that just sat around open forever were still tight

[Johnny_D]

Post it Scoop. There are members who will be able to read it for you.

JD

[ghostofdavid]

I, too, have a package with the 2006 date. I just bought it from a local shop in March and it smokes fine. Mush smokes this flavor and it is one of his favorites. Maybe he can chime it.

Normally, I would say to not worry about it (unless you haven't let it acclimate a bit from the shipping process), but if it tastes bad it makes me a bit suspicious... my stuff smokes strong for as long as it lasts.. I say try it again and let us know!

[Scoop]

im at work right now and i think i knew the boxes away =/

[MAKCuMG]

Thanks guys, but I am not really asking about the AF specfically. I am asking a general question. How to infuse flavor into tobacco? AF was just an example. Maybe I don't need to infuse flavor into it, but if I wanted to, how would I go about it. What would I need to soak it in, microwave, let sit out some how?

Just the procedure, if anyone knows.

[ghostofdavid]

Let it set out in the open air for a couple of hours or so. Don't add anything to it. Let it adjust to your house temperature and humidity. For some, it seems to help. Let us know what happens to it after that.

[MAKCuMG]

Thanks Ghost, acclimating is always a good idea, I know.

I was really just interested in the steps one would take to actually infuse flavor into a tobacco. How to make a tobacco apple, or orange, or rasberry, etc. Or if one had apple, how he would make it apple rasberry for example.

Does anyone get what I'm asking, or are you guys going to keep telling to aclimate

[Sonthert]

Hi, I think I can answer that. There are a number of ways to add flavoring to tobacco, but the word infuse is not quite the word I'd use.

First off, many Middle Eastern companies use cheap, water based flavorings to flavor their tobacco. Once it dries, its dead. Some flavors also tend to fade, especially citrus flavors proper. Pineapple to a lesser extent (considered citrus-fruit like because of its vitamin makeup). Flavors for this type of tobacco have to be specially made and designed. For a given flavor like watermelon, lighter, more unstable flavors, flavors that have higher water solubilities need to have their amounts increased within the flavor. Heavier, less soluble flavors need to be reduced. The actual flavor of the flavor isn't that good. Put it in a pipe and smoke it, it tastes different.

Tangiers uses high quality, non-water based flavorings, so other than fading, ours has a shelf-life of years and years. Even if the flavor fades, it still smokes well. Its a lot more expensive, but the results make it worth it. I have noticed that Romman's flavors tend to be pretty pricey, too. Of course, if you talk to Sammy Romman for 5 minutes, you'll be impressed by the man. (side point!)

As to your problem. It all depends on the flavor. Adding more glycerine may pick up the smoke, but the flavor will probably be still weak. Maybe that's how AF golden esk. apple smokes. Have you tried it before? I hate to use the term, because I don't agree with it but it could have been a "bad batch" . Maybe that's why the party in question never smoked it. They may not have even realized it was a bad batch, it could have been their first time smoking it. I think its dead, chuck it. Buy a new 250g and watch whom you trade with in the future (whomever that is ).

[MAKCuMG]

Thanks Eric,

Tell me, what are some of those ways? Are there things that can be done at home? Using juice or concentrate? How does one go about it?

[Sonthert]

It takes a chemistry set up.

Using juices and concentrates, you would have to add the stuff and then dry it. a lot. Too much water.

[MAKCuMG]

Hmm....so theres no hope for old and dying shisha....those water-based flavors do dry out....nothing that can be added or done to it in the flavor department?



PS:do american based companies use something else?

[Sonthert]

Not necessarily. As far as I can tell, Tangiers is the only company to work from scratch. Most other companies use foundation from the Middle East and flavor it here...or even worse, import and repackage it. As far as other American companies, they just copy companies in the Middle East. If you've ever tried some of the high class tobacco from the Middle East, you can tell that they use a higher quality of flavoring. For that, like I said, Romman and Fumari use the highest quality of flavorings.

I don't think there's any hope. Sorry. Its just ten bucks. You're young. You'll get through this! 8)

[scottienl]

You know, when backing, you get those lil bottles of flavouring and such. Could you use a tiny bit to add flavour ? I think ill pick up some at the store next time im there and try it out !

[Allia22]

I think TX tried that once and said it came out nasty as hell >.<

[Sonthert]

Wrong solvent base. Work poorly.