For goodness sake, let it steep !!

[OneDay]

I was going to put this in the Mixology thread where it is most appropriate, but it has some general relevance too so bear with me.

There are so many threads talking about poor/weak/bland flavoured juices, often accompanied by statements like "I know I only made it three days ago" or "I'm not patient enough to wait"

Now I know that as ex-smokers we're all addictive personalities, and I know we are so keen on our hobby that we want instant gratification. I'm as bad as the next person for itchy BIN finger and postie stalking.

But the truth is, you can't hurry nature. Steeping is a vital part of juice making and it can take weeks not hours. If you dive in too soon you will NOT be tasting the juice at anywhere near it's best. You wouldn't enjoy a two-week old malt whisky or a month-old claret, so why think you'll enjoy a juice a few hours old? Set it aside, enjoy the anticipation, and REALLY enjoy the finished product. If you're mixing your own, make regular small batches so they mature in sequence.

Rant over. That is all.

[Deleted]

Good rant. I think it's newbie excitement to be honest and understandable. The whiskey/wine analogy is good. I am into my 3rd month of mixing and have only just landed on 3-4 flavours that I could regularly and consistently mix and use. I've been cutting down on my vendor juice and slowly ramping up my homebrew, mixing 30-60ml a month in advance. The stuff I did today is March's supply to keep me going plus I'll be trialing new stuff. Once you get in the flow I think the anticipation wears off since you know what you are getting.

[ant]

Heh, I was just the same at first but I now seem to be stuck in 'give it one more day' mode and my tobacco mixes are starting to resemble treacle

[Perpetua]

I can understand the excitement of wanting to test something you've created, no different to baking a cake and wanting to try the end result.

But then I can't understand the disappointment when it doesn't taste very nice, or of nothing . . . it won't, it hasn't had time for all those little flavour molecules to infuse with each other. 

I reckon my home brews, with the type of flavours I enjoy, are at their best 3 - 4 weeks after mixing, though I check them at weekly intervals to see if they need any tweaking. 

Why waste the time and effort you've put into creating something by not having a little patience. 

[Deleted]

Once again all I can say is the beauty of being a menthol lover it is vapable straight away

one happy fluffy bunny

[OneDay]

That's only because menthol is as subtle as an air-raid

[Ewol]

I have an entire drawer full of juice steeping at the moment. I'm glad I only have one clearo at the moment. It's so hard.

[Toondog]

As a newbie I was a tad sceptical of this "steeping" mullarky, that is until I ordered some tailor made juice, it tasted like, well, nothing,maybe a hint of plastic possibly glue. I took apart and rebuilt a couple of clearos, obviously a fault there, this steeping nonsense surly couldn't make that much difference. I persevered for about three days before giving up. "Never buying from there again" One week later what was left of said awful juices had completely changed colour and the smell coming from their dark corner of the cupboard was amazing! I tried one, it was completely transformed. Not just a bit, unrecognisable from the tasteless, flavourless disappointment of the week before. Lesson learned. Now I can't promise you that I can resist the temptation all of the time. But I can usually manage a week, or maybe four days if its a one I really like,perhaps three if its a favourite
Chris

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2013 22:20:47 GMT OneDay said:

That's only because menthol is as subtle as an air-raid

Mine certainly is with at least 2 gram menthol crystals per 100ml mix , it fair blows the cobwebs away

[Ewol]

Does it make you go to the loo as well?

[Jen]

Feb 12, 2013 21:50:43 GMT OneDay said:

But the truth is, you can't hurry nature. Steeping is a vital part of juice making and it can take weeks not hours. If you dive in too soon you will NOT be tasting the juice at anywhere near it's best. You wouldn't enjoy a two-week old malt whisky or a month-old claret, so why think you'll enjoy a juice a few hours old? Set it aside, enjoy the anticipation, and REALLY enjoy the finished product. If you're mixing your own, make regular small batches so they mature in sequence.

So, just because I'm expecting my first mixing supplies tomorrow and I want to get it right - do you wait 1+ weeks to taste test new creations, too? How do you know you're on the right track?

[OneDay]

Jen, see Perpy's input above

[OneDay]

Feb 12, 2013 23:06:25 GMT OneDay said:

Jen, see Perpy's input above - a week is reasonable

[Jen]

Feb 12, 2013 23:06:25 GMT OneDay said:

Jen, see Perpy's input above

Fair enough

[chykensa]

Thanks for this post, it has just persuaded me, at this late hour, to forsake this forum, get out my mixing stuff, and whip up a Tutti Frutti mix at 8mg 50/50 for half way through March - can I bear the suspense!?
Andy