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From what can I safely extract flavours and how do I choose the method of extraction? (especially interested in tea)
submitted over 10 years ago by Asyx

Hello!

I want to get into DIY stuff but I'm more interested in extracting than just mixing flavours together. Extracting the flavour of my favourite tea or coffee or just from high quality vanilla seems way more fun to me.

However, I still have some questions after reading the thread in the sidebar. For once, why do I heat up coffee but let vanilla steep? What's the difference here? Based on what should I choose the method? Is it because coffee is generally brewed and therefore I should also "brew" it for my flavours? So I'd do the same with tea, right?

What else is good for extraction? Spices were mentioned, for example. That sounds nice. What about stuff like ginger? So, something more solid. Just grate the thing and off it goes into PG?

Is there something in tea and coffee that is usually not in the actual drink (because it doesn't really dissolve in water or something)? Is there stuff besides fruits (already red about that in the other thread) that I generally need to avoid?

Thanks.

Edit: specifically, I want to extract green tea (sencha and jasmine) as well as black tea (first flush darjeeling)

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3 points
 
by BooksofMagicover 10 years agoMixologist

I searched this sub for 'Extraction' and found this thread near the top. Hopefully it answers your questions.

2 points
 
by CaptainBludclotover 10 years ago

Tea and other green stuff are super easy. You need sealed bags where you remove the air completely and leave it in a warm water bath for a few days. Pref vacuum.

Place dried plant matter in the bag and soak it in VG or PG until it covers the tea and everything nicely. Not too much liquid. Remove all the air. You need warmth. Some where in the middle of body temperature and water boiling temp. We use 50c. Water bath is important to make the heat uniform but it also works if you can put the bag somewhere warm. Use a coffee filter to take out the particles.

It is better to use too much tea than too little and then dilute than the opposite.

This method works with pretty much all dried green herbs and spices.

Make sure to use dried stuff for this method though as to remove sugars, fats, and other things from fresh plants and fruits is a whole different ballgame. Potency increases with time but so does decay. It will start to rot after too long so more than a few days isn't too good.

Also juice made this way won't keep very well so what ever you make don't expect it to get better with steeping since not using any solvents.

I recommend doing it this way with a LOT more tea leaves than you would use normally for drinking. You just want enough VG to soak the plants.

Do several very small batches at the same time in individual bags and open them, filter and taste ever 12 or so hours and do any adjustments according to what you learn.

1 points
 
by lcecigover 10 years ago

>specifically, I want to extract green tea (sencha and jasmine) as well as black tea (first flush darjeeling)

I've seen threads where they suggest heating VG or PG and steeping the tea in it for a while to get the flavors, but I don't think it would work for the tea connoisseur since it requires extremely long steep times which makes tea bitter. I haven't tried it, yet, but if you do please let me know the results.

1 points
 
by Asyxover 10 years ago

I will make a thread here once I've done it. I just spend a lot of money (for a student) on an RDA, a mod and juice so that needs to wait until the next month.

I have read that you can also just brew a cup and let water avaporate until it's something like 30ml. I try that as well.

1 points
 
by lcecigover 10 years ago

As a fellow tea drinker, have you tried either Lapsang Souchong or Russian Caravan/Country? I think they would make a great vape juice.

1 points
 
by Asyxover 10 years ago

Nope I stay more to traditional kinds of tea for now. I looked a lot for a tea vendor that actually offers good tea for not that much money and found those guys and import from them to Germany. Now I'm working my way through their stuff but up to this point, I've only tried the stuff I mentioned in the thread.

1 points
 
by jakeabbottover 10 years ago

I tried green tea with matcha and chai tea extracted in pg heated on low for about an hour. I did a pot of water with the tea and pg in a mason jar. I then filtered the pg through a coffee filter, which took over night.

They both ended up tasting like grass when mixed at 4%. I wouldn't recommend it.

1 points
 
by CheeseVikingsover 10 years ago

Ethervapes does this and it tadted just fine (had the jasmine tea)

1 points
 
by CheeseVikingsover 10 years ago

You can do fruit but to get the sugar out so it doesnt gunk youd want to use analytic grade activated charcoal in the vacuum filtration. Which may or may not take all the flavor as well as the sugar.

1 points
 
by skiddlzninjaover 10 years agoFrugivore

There's a link in the sidebar.

1 points
 
by DropKickRickover 10 years ago

Coffee contains natural oil's be careful brother, i read a post here where a guy had all kinds of lung problems from using NEC/NET. I also read that using decaffeinated coffee had a lower oil content? Although keen myself i think i will pass and head straight for the tea's, best of luck though peace.

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