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Low Concentration Menthol; throat hit without impacting taste
submitted over 7 years ago by taslam

IDK if this is common knowledge but I've found that using low amounts of menthol in mixes will give them a nice throat hit without really tasting of menthol.

For eg here is a sort of tropical cola recipe I'm developing:

3-4% TFA Cola 1.5% TFA Champagne 1.67% menthol 1% TFA Papaya 0.5% TFA Dragon Fruit

The menthol is a saturated solution of crystals in PG at room temperature; I filled a 10ml bottle halfway with crushed menthol crystals, filled it up with PG. After a couple weeks at room temp, I have a layer of undissolved crystals at the bottom. I have been using this pretty much since starting DIY in all of my frequently used recipes, often at higher levels, so people who are less used to menthol may wish to adjust downwards. Maybe using 0.5% of saturated menthol solution instead of 1.67% would be better if you're just starting out or giving it a tty yet not fond of the taste of menthol.

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8 points
 
by FitChemist432over 7 years ago

Why not use koolada if you want to avoid the menthol flavor? or WS23?

I get the idea you're going for, I used to keep a "never ending" beaker of saturated 4M KCl for my research; excess crystals, add DI water, no more crystals, add more KCl. Never had to measure anything, just check the room temp.

3 points
 
by Civinskoover 7 years ago

In my experience Koolada does the opposite of Menthol when used low.

Menthol gives an extra kick whenever you use it, koolada really low has the effect of smoothing stuff out. At least i like to use it like that on fruity stuff that ends up too sweet.

YMMV.

1 points
 
by FitChemist432over 7 years ago

Interesting, I never thought to use it like that, time to go spike some bottles!

2 points
 
by zenotekover 7 years ago

I love koolada so much I want to add it to my food.

2 points
 
by BioTechDudeover 7 years ago

I've been thinking about adding koolada to my homemade lime tequila habenero ghost pepper hot sauce. A "fire and ice" that's not mint & cinnamon

2 points
 
by rubermnkeyover 7 years ago

. . . I just had the weirdest shit. What did you give me?

1 points
 
by FitChemist432over 7 years ago

It's gotta be the right flavor profile for me to use it, but when it's good, it's great.

1 points
 
by much_longer_usernameover 7 years ago

Potassium chloride?

1 points
 
by FitChemist432over 7 years ago

Yep!

1 points
 
by taslamover 7 years ago

I don't want to avoid it. I just wanted to share my findings about low concentration menthol with the community. I use menthol all over the place. I've never even seen this koolada ganj.

2 points
 
by taslamover 7 years ago

A solvent can only carry a specific amount of a solute at a given temperature and pressure. Once this maximum value is reached, the solution is said to be "saturated". It changes with temp and pressure. If I put my saturated solution in the freezer, more crystals would precipitate out. If I put it in a hot water bath, the undissolved menthol might dissolve, but then it would likely crash out again as it returned to room temp. If the air pressure changed, I believe similar effects would occur but that's not really relevant. Hope that clarifies things!

1 points
 
by imNAchogrlover 7 years ago

Why are your crystals still crystals and not dissolving?

1 points
 
by taslamover 7 years ago

Some dissolved but there were too many for that amount of PG to dissolve them all. I made a reply that explained it in physical chemistry terms but that somehow ended up replying to my OP and not your comment. Then I realised that maybe I hadn't spoken clearly enough hence this reply!

1 points
 
by kuri_sanTouover 7 years agoDiketones, Schmiketones

thank you

1 points
 
by imNAchogrlover 7 years ago

Yes ty

1 points
 
by madpianoover 7 years ago

I love a touch of menthol in my juices. I have been adding it to nearly everything recently. Apart from nut/caramel/coffee.

1 points
 
by N3moHoesover 7 years ago

FA Flash Hit works a treat for throat hit and doesn't add any flavour at all. It's great for dropping nic from recipes.

1 points
 
by JanickGersover 7 years agoMentholatier

After testing several mixes with different percentages, I've found that what works better for me is to mix 20% crystals 80% PG using a scale. For 100 ml of menthol solvent then, it's 20g crystals and the rest is PG. It works great and it never crystallizes again at room temperature after left for about 6 hours for the crystals to fully dissolve.
This menthol lasts for a really long time in the mix, it's very strong so low percentages are needed, and it works wonders for palate cleansing purposes. Just a mix with 5% of this and it'll clean your nostrils right up.

0 points
 
by onebitover 7 years ago

I'm crazy and just smoke menthol/koolada with no flavor. 6 drops each / 30ml.

1 points
 
by taslamover 7 years ago

I love it

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