In the whole world, the number of smokers is growing, who prefer growing their tobacco in their own garden, rather than expensive and low-quality purchased cigarettes. Growing tobacco, however, is half the battle. It needs processing, namely drying and fermentation. In this article, we are going to walk you through the ways to ferment tobacco leaf at home.

Fermentation of tobacco at home

Fermentation is the final process of tobacco processing, after which the tobacco is ready for consumption and long-term storage.

During fermentation, the biochemical composition of the tobacco leaf changes, and it parts with harmful substances, acquiring a bright aroma and taste, and becomes less strong.

Fermentation of tobacco at home is a painstaking process. Your tobacco should be completely dry, after which the dried leaves are placed in a bag or bag and moistened with a spray bottle. Leave the leaves in the bag overnight to moisturize. The moisture content of the leaves should be about 50%. Now your tobacco is ready for fermentation, which lasts, depending on the method, up to two weeks, and sometimes years.

Homemade tobacco fermentation methods

1. Natural fermentation of tobacco

The process of natural "aging" of tobacco is the most effective, high-quality, but very long way. Store the tobacco in a dark, dry and warm place after drying and keep it there for a year or longer.

2. Fermentation of tobacco in the sun

Moisten the leaves so that they are practically dry without breaking, and place them in a jar, covered with an iron lid. Take the cans out into the sun, place them on a metal surface that the sun will heat up. The banks will cool down overnight, but that's okay. Try tobacco after 10 days. As soon as its aroma seems sufficient to you, remove the tobacco leaves from the cans and dry thoroughly.

That's all, tobacco can be used. The sun also disinfects tobacco with ultraviolet rays, killing mold spores. You can ferment the tobacco in your car by placing it in the sun.

3. Fermentation of tobacco in the oven

You will need an oven and 3 liter jars with sealed lids. The tobacco leaves should be dry, but elastic, that is, they should not break.

Sprinkle the leaves from a spray bottle on both sides, if they are very dry, fold them in stacks, cover with foil and leave for a day. Then remove the midrib from each leaf, cut into 2mm strips and place in jars so that two thirds are filled (so that it is easy to mix). Screw the jars tightly with the lids and place them in the oven at 50 degrees for 5-7 days. Then take the tobacco out of the cans, dry it, and it's ready. Store it in an airtight container.

4. Fermentation of tobacco in the microwave

Cut the leaves into strips of 1-2mm, place in glass jars, cover with glass lids and microwave on minimum power for 30 minutes. Then take out the jars and cool them down. Repeat the process 3-4 times and your tobacco is ready to use.

5. Fermentation of tobacco in a multicooker

Roll up the tobacco leaves tightly and place in a cloth bag. Set the temperature on the multicooker to 50 degrees and place the bags of tobacco there. During the day, you should change the lower and upper layers in places several times. After 2-3 hours you will feel the honey aroma, and after 3-4 days your tobacco can be consumed. Remember to cover the steam release valve with foil to prevent moisture from evaporating.

And finally:

• After fermentation, the leaves turn golden brown. A green leaf is a sign of marriage.
• After a few days, the leaves should give off a honey scent.
• There should be no condensation on the cans, and if it appears, immediately remove the leaves and dry.
• After fermentation, let the tobacco sit for another day for even more aromatic and strong tobacco.

Follow all the rules and your tobacco will be fragrant and tasty. But if you are very serious about the aroma of your tobacco then check out the following section.

Homemade tobacco aromatization and sauce

Tobacco aromatization is the final stage in which the tobacco changes its aroma. In tobacco factories, tobacco aromatization is carried out by the use of alcohol-based flavors. Alcohol evaporates and leaves a scent to the tobacco. Also, in factories, humidifiers, antifungal agents are added to tobacco, which allow the tobacco to be preserved for a long time. However, many smokers resent the addition of various additives to tobacco, and prefer their own tobacco. In this article, we are going to tell you about flavoring and dressing tobacco at home.

Home tobacco aromatization

Natural tobacco smokers often think about how they can improve its aroma. There are quite a few ways, both with the help of natural and with the help of chemical flavors. Let's consider them.

• The easiest way is to add dried cherry leaves to the tobacco. It used to be mixed with makhorka to improve its taste and aroma.

Cherry leaves can be mixed with tobacco, or you can wrap them in cheesecloth and place them in the middle of a jar of pre-moistened tobacco. The jar is placed in a warm place, tightly closed, so that the tobacco is saturated with the aroma of cherry leaves.

• You can prepare an alcoholic tincture from the Yellow Melilot (flowers). Then you need to spray the tobacco with it and place it in a warm place for a week to soak it.
• Another option is to mix a couple of tablespoons of honey with 200 grams of brandy. Add 80 ml of 9% vinegar and 1 ml to them. glycerin. Pour this composition into a liter container and top up with distilled water until the container is full. Then we pour the solution into a spray bottle and moisten the tobacco with it. We place the tobacco in a glass jar and put it in a place with a temperature of 40-50? С. In winter, a battery may also work.

The tobacco must be ventilated periodically, every 10-12 days. We soak the tobacco for 10 weeks, then ventilate it well and give it 2 weeks of rest. Oven drying is also possible.

• For this method of tobacco aromatization, you will need natural vanilla pods, which must be grinded with chopped moist tobacco. Then put the tobacco in a glass jar, close the airtight lid and leave in a warm place for 3 days.
• You can also add 1:15 commercial flavored tobacco to your homemade tobacco. You can choose any variety you like. Seal the tobacco in a jar hermetically for a week and it's done.

Tobacco aromatization with chemical compounds

• The easiest way is to take a flavored e-liquid, dilute it 1:10 with water and spray it on the tobacco from a spray bottle.
• Nicotine-free hookah tobacco "Leyla", which is produced by the Pogarskaya factory, is suitable for tobacco aromatization. Pour 150-200 ml of boiled water over one briquette and let it brew for 5 hours. Pour the resulting liquid into a spray bottle and spray the tobacco with it. Then place the tobacco in the jar, close the lid and let it brew for 2 days. After taking out the tobacco, dry it a little and try it. Hookah tobacco can be whatever you like best.

Tobacco sauce

For homemade tobacco sauce, you need any berries. Cover them with water and put on fire. The water must evaporate to form a thick concentrate. Then add rubbing alcohol and other alcoholic drinks of your choice to this sauce. Place the fermented tobacco leaves in a bowl, fill with the resulting sauce, put under oppression and put in heat for 2 days.

Then the tobacco must be placed under a press, or squeezed into a clamp and heated for 5 hours at a temperature of 60-70 C. Then the tobacco is cut, dried in the oven and tasted.

Do not take large portions of tobacco at once, as the result may deceive your expectations. Try a small batch first.