I started with fizzmustard's 'NC clone that was posted about 6 months ago. However, I noticed something missing when I compared the scent to my authentic bottle of 'NC. Was it lemon? No, lemon is too harsh. Was it pear? No, pear is too subtle a flavor. Perhaps I was smelling a melon flavor. Alas, melon is far too sweet. It hit me when I was in my local Asian Mart, looking at my favorite gummy candy. Kiwi! So I sent in an order to TFA that night. While picking out other flavors to get with the kiwi, (because TFA shipping is damn expensive) I saw a flavor I had never heard of. The description being a sweet, citrus-y flavor. On a whim, I threw it in my cart. Upon my flavor's arrival, I gave each bottle a good waft.
'Hmm, kiwi doesn't seem to have enough citrus too it, guess I won't figure it out after all,' I thought to myself. Down-trodden, I made my way through the other flavors, until I happened upon this seldom-used mystery flavor that had piqued my interest. The aroma hit my olfactory glands like a Jimmy Neutron Brain Blast!TM
"Eureka!" I exclaimed, as tears filled my weary eyes. The flavor is within my grasp, and with it, the Bombies Challenge!
Without further ado, I present my recipe.
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5% LA Banana Cream
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8% TFA Strawberry
And the secret to the tart, sweet, mesmerizing taste of 'NC,
- 2% TFA Quince
Also, if you have never tried Quince, I highly recommend giving it a try, as it adds a very delightful tart to fruity mixes without overwhelming all other flavors. Really glad that I decided to try it.
edit: for those hesitant to buy a bottle of Quince, I'll mix up a single flavor batch and write the impressions I get from it when i get home in ~2hours
/u/skiddlzninja might just be right here :)
You can check out the component list for TFA Quince to see why it would work.
I PM'd bombies before I posted this, to make sure I wouldn't be giving away his livelihood for the sake of fake internet points. We're still a bit off, but he told me "As for the recipe, it's not TFA Quince. But you're definitely heading in the right direction...(but perhaps consider revisiting LA Banana Cream and TFA Strawberry as well)!"
edit: but that doesn't mean this recipe doesn't taste eerily similar to authentic 'Nana Cream
Ah, gotcha. Several of quince's molecules are shared with dragonfruit, kiwi...etc. They're used in a lot of flavors, and I've found a lot of combinations that give similar tastes when mixed.
At this point I've moved on, you know. I'm forever indebted to that recipe for pushing me to learn about the craft and I've gotten more than my fair share from it.
Yeah, I can definitely taste and smell the kiwi aroma molecules in it when wafted. Dragonfruit is a bit harder to smell, but the taste comes through right on the center of the tongue on inhale.
Well, if you ever find yourself ordering quince, mix up a batch and share your thoughts, I'm sure the sub would love to hear what you think :D
Why would he confirm whether or not you have the correct recipe? Not being a smartass, just wondering why you feel he'd tell you if you did.
artistic integrity, and I also told him in the message that, due to the recent spate of unethical entrepreneurs lurking for promising recipes to sell in this subreddit, that I would hold off on posting this recipe, and if it was too close to authentic that I would let it stay only in my mind. He gave me the go-ahead to post it, so I doubt it is the real recipe.
When did TFA release Quince? Thought I owned every one of their fruit flavors 5-6 months ago but this is one I had never seen.
It's been out for quite a long time (well over a year, I think), but not available through most resellers for some reason.
Great work! Can't wait to try it. Been looking for a dragon fruit substitute. Hate that coil crusting stuff.
Are you sure it isn't the citric acid or the yellow 40? Too much citric acid and it will collect on your cool and burn and cause gunk. Yellow 40 (the coloring in la banana cream) will collect and gunk on the coil. I've used dragon fruit in several recipes. The nana cream clone is the only dragon fruit recipe I have that gunks.
It very well could have been the citric acid. I use colorless banana cream. With the Quince replacement and no citric acid it's much better.
Like you, I too have been experimenting with the /u/fizzmustard nana clone recently. There's something about the dragonfruit that just doesn't taste quite right to me, so I've been trying to use other flavors in place of the dragonfruit to try and hone in on that true Nana Cream flavor. I've played around with kiwi and melons like you, but like you said, none of them really give you that tartness that I taste in the real Nana Cream. It's refreshing that you brought up something obscure like Quince. I had never even heard of that flavor before, so now I'm going to have to order some with my next flavor order.
Nice work on this recipe. I can't wait to give it a try.
Edit: And I believe that you're right about not having to add Citric acid to the mix. It doesn't add the right kind of tartness that's in the real Nana Cream.
the only thing the CA does it bring the strawberry out ahead of the banana, so I added an extra 1% of banana and removed the CA completely. Seems to make up for the change in recipe. And be sure to let me know what you think after you try the recipe!
I agree with you about CA. I was experimenting with TFA Pineapple, and though I'm pretty sure Pineapple is not in the real recipe it still gave the mix that tartness that's in nana cream more so that any amount of CA. So because of that I'm convinced that CA is not necessary for this clone.
I'll give you my thoughts on your recipe soon. I'm going to make a flavor order tonight and add some quince and maybe a few other tart type flavors and do some mad scientist experimenting this weekend.
I've had an inkling about Quince in H.Pearry as well. Damn, really need to finally try some.
It does give a tutti-fruiti taste on exhale that I get from Honey Peary as well. It really is an interesting flavor and definitely pick yourself up a bottle.
Will do. My local DiY shop has it in stock, just something came up when I meant to head over there last time. Hopefully I'll get some this Friday.
you have a local DIY shop? Lucky!
I don't have any quince, but I'll get some next time I order and give it a shot. Bit surprised at leaving the Dragonfruit off though, I find it almost essential.
well, /u/_bombies himself stated that there is no dragonfruit in it, so I took it out completely. Quince has just the right amount of pineapple-y flavor you get from dragonfruit, but has more tart flavor so you don't have to add the citric acid.
Well I'm gonna need /u/_bombies to send me a sample of this famous 'nana cream as I have not had the pleasure to try it or the clone yet wink wink xD
Alright, you convinced me, OP. My next order will include those flavors.
I suggest getting the LA banana cream and TFA strawberry in 4 oz bottles, as both are very delicious, very versatile flavors with plenty of recipes. Get a regular bottle of quince just to make sure you like it.
Do you know if there is a big difference in flavor between LA banana cream and the TFA version?
(I already have 4oz of the TFA version - just wondering if it's worth trying or if I should just wait until I can get the LA version.)
There is a difference in flavor, but perhaps an easier method for deciding was the color. 'NC has that vibrant yellow color, and no other Banana Cream flavoring has the bright yellow coloring that LorAnne puts into theirs. You could always try other banana cream flavors, and let us all know how they work out!
Thanks for the help dude. I've been playing around with flavors in my free time trying to get closer to the legit NC. Going to mix this up very soon and give it a go!
Wow, TFA Quince? Thats an awesome idea. Definitely going to grab a bottle ASAP. I never even knew TFA had that flavor. Could be useful in so many recipes.
Thanks for sharing!
Hello...
i would say that maybe Pear and Apple (a combination of those two) will get us closer. Quince. Been in the Mediterranean (that you may find quince everywhere) it seems as a key ingredient but not on its own. Also have in mind that Quince is full in Vitamin C = Citric / Acid. So a bet would be a combination of pear / apple and something acidic to recreate the flavour of something else... ( a kind of dragonfruit maybe)... My other bet is yuzu... but that's a long shot... /u/bombies
Well, /u/_bombies has already told me that this is not the recipe for 'Nana Cream. However, I feel this gives a more similar flavor than any of the other clone recipes, and by sharing it, someone will find a way tweak this recipe and hopefully bring us one step closer to a legit clone. To address your thoughts on Pear and Apple, The compound list that /u/fizzmustard posted on quince seems to list a large number of the aroma particles that are described with "green apple". I also believe there is at least on that is described as a pear flavor on the list.
I have never tried real quince, so I cannot be sure that the flavoring tastes anything like the fruit. I can, however, tell you that the flavoring, when mixed at 2-3% in a solution of 5% Lorann Banana Cream and 8% TFA strawberry, tastes very close to 'Nana Cream by Bombies
Quince is actually a hybrid of pear and apple:)
On the top shelf.
The Quince works great! Just tried it in the Nana cream. Can't wait to see what else I can use this flavor for.
Thanks man!
So I mixed 100ml of this, and my first impression is its closer than the Dragon fruit recipe, but it's harsher too. The Quince has a bit of pepper to it, it seems, and I'm not digging it so far(gonna let it steep to see if it mellows out). One day, one of you flavoring geniuses will crack the code. It gets closer every time. Thanks for the recipe OP.
No problem, and thanks for the feedback! I'm currently trying to find a flavor close to quince but without that bite you mentioned. I noticed it does have a peppery feel, and perhaps I can find a finisher that can take it away. I'm currently experimenting with FW Flavor Toner/Enhancer to see if it takes away the spice.
Just wanted to add to the pepper notes. I get them as well, I'm vaping some now after 6 day steep. It's very good but that pepper on the exhale reminds of when I first started DIY, didn't know what I was doing and was tasting, what I thought was my nic. Good stuff though.
Mixed some up, it's definitely closer, let it sit for one and it's the closest thing I've tried yet, though it seems to be missing some of that smoothness... Maybe some marshmallow to smooth it out I know it mixes well with Strawberry (TFA)
I'll put a couple drops into a 10mL batch now.
Better or worse? It smooths out high notes but mutes flavors too...
Thanks for the recipe! Just mixed it and added 0.25% TFA Smooth , its spot on , not detecting any harshness so far
Maybe I'll have to try that, I've been looking for a way to tone down the harshness and get it closer to authentic, and FW toner/enhancer isnt cutting it.
I actually finally got around to mixing this yesterday as well. Added ~0.3% of Smooth and it definitely seems ridiculously close to me. Not getting so much of the pepper-y taste that others are mentioning. Maybe its just my shitty palette though.
I still personally think the secret is apple+pear but Quince seems to work really well.
Made a batch about 2 weeks ago, the peppery hit was too strong from the Quince right away. After the steep its wonderful, nice tartness!
Haha yeah, I've been trying to find something to cover that pepper from Quince, with no luck so far. Hopefully I'll find the key soon and be able to update everyone with a more finished recipe.
Any adjustments to your original recipe? I just mixed it up and added 2 additions. 4 drops of smooth and 3 drops of ACV in a 30ml tester. Shook and let sit for an hour and the smooth calms down the peppery taste and brings out the tart. Hope this helps.
How long does it need to steep?
Freaking out here because the nicotine I received from NN a week ago is all I can taste in this 120ml batch. (I shook it, don't worry)
...I think these guys just screwed up their nicotine again.
Did you buy a titration kit? After reading how they fucked up before, I decided it was best to get one
I wish I could.
But,
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I don't know where to start on getting one
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I don't have cash to spare for another 3 months.
So, I'm just gonna need to try and get a replacement or refund from NN :/