I'm just starting out with DIY and I'm curious how much citric acid helps out flavors in juice. I have been vaping legit Nana Cream for 6 months now daily and I just made up some fizzmustard NC clone without the citric and I feel like it's missing an element or two. Curious for some feedback before I mix up another batch with it. Basically, is CA totally necessary to achieve the expected flavor profile? Also on that note, is steeping recommended for this recipe? Should I always expect to steep a juice for a week or so? [I know CA has been suggested to add to the recipe, but I have heard other opinions saying not to add it. Perhaps it's just subjective?]
Actually, apparently /u/fizzmustard isn't even advocating the CA in it any longer. Others do swear by it tho. Certainly will put a little pop in it. You could just add some to what you already have made up. It's only one drop per ml IIRC.
Correct, I don't really find that it adds anything any more, it gunks coils, and any perceptible flavor benefit fades over time.
Perfect. I was hoping you'd chime in here! Thanks for your insight. Also, just to double check that I am using the most recent iteration of the recipe; I'm using the following...
Banana Cream (LA) - 5% Strawberry (TFA) - 7% Dragonfruit (TFA) - 3%
...Look good to you?
When I mixed up a batch, I noticed the banana was a bit too pronounced, so I upped strawberry to 8% and kept the others the same and it's pretty spot on. Not saying to change the recipe the first time you make it, but keep the strawberry out until you taste your final product.
edit: after actually reading your post, it seems like the missing part could be that 1% strawberry. If you're not getting enough tart, that's because both of the flavors besides strawberry are more muted and underlying flavors, the strawberry gives you the tart and the very slight throat hit on the back of the tongue that legit 'NC gives you.
Yeah, that's what I read too. Pretty much what prompted the question. I'll let it steep for a week, taste it, then throw some CA in it to see how it changes.
To throw out my two cents, I agree with fizz. I really don't think it adds anything that makes it worth the amount of coil-gunking it seems to cause.
I'm getting to the point where I'm pretty sure all of our (as in the whole sub's) "wow CA really makes fruits pop!" talk was just total placebo due to the hype it got for a while.
So you don't think CA actually adds to any recipe?
In my opinion, yes it makes a difference. So does steeping. Steeping will make a much bigger difference than citric acid though. Especially if you give it a good two week or more steep.
So I went to an empty bottle of 'nana cream, and decided to smell it so I could get another picture of the exact flavor profile. I smelled something very, very familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
3 hours later, I'm sitting in bed, and it pops into my head, Kiwi! It smells like there is a small % of kiwi in the juice, which keeps the strawberry from being overwhelming, and the banana from being too much like overripe banana, and more like slightly green banana. I'll try to figure out the exact amount when I get more supplies in on Tuesday.
/u/fizzmustard did you ever try small amounts of kiwi in your recipe?
Yep. Both FA Kiwi and TFA Kiwi Double. The TFA Kiwi Double certainly doesn't detract from the recipe and makes it very tasty (3%, substituted instead of TFA Dragonfruit). FA Kiwi at the same percentage is also tasty, but no closer to the original.
hmmmm, did you try supplementing the DF with like 1-2% kiwi double?
or perhaps splitting the DF and KwD and making it 2% each?