Malawi Style Cob Curing.

[Tangwena]

I just started my first attempt at a COB cure; two one oz batches of (ADE×AOC)×(MAU×ETH) wrapped and tied tightly in fresh corn husks.

I did vacuum seal them right away, two layers actually, followed by aluminium foil and plastic wrap, then a final layer of tape to further compress the two COBs and assure the fully air tight seal can not be broken.

My plan is to open one in three weeks and a month for the second oz.

What will my next actions be to assure a long shelf life?

DRM Ranch

Nice project there did you sweat them? I cant see any mention of it.
You dont have to sweat them but it speeds up the fermentation.
If you dont sweat them then you will need to store them sealed in a warm place 35c or higher to get them to ferment properly.
If you have then when you open the packages you should get a sweet fermented smell.
The smell will be very sexy like a very floral smelling hash.
Once you get a bit of experience you will be able to tell from this smell if its fermented enough or needs a little longer.
Once you are happy with it you will need to dry the cobs. I like to leave a trace of moisture in the center it helps keep it smelling good.
If you fully dry them they will be fine, but if a little moisture is left its better to vacuum seal them to age to stop any chance of mold growing.
Either fully dried or sealed up they keep for years. They will slowly loose their strong odor as they dry its normal.
This method is not for looks or smell but for the different high you can produce.

 

[Mick]

Hey, thanks for all the awesome info. I'm definitely going to give it a try.
I'm a big health nut, especially gut health, as imo that's the engine room for a robust body and mind, so I'm into fermented foods big-time, as they provide the gut with all sorts of beneficial probiotics and microbes. This method of cob fermentation has got me wondering if it too would be a good source of probiotics, and I'm betting it is. I'd imagine that regularly ingesting fermented cob would eventually colonise all these rare and exotic beneficial fermented cannabis microbes and bacteria in your gut, and that can only be a good thing. Might even be a good business plan for you. Cobs advertised as Mile High Probiotics of Green Dream Microbes Gut health is big business these days.

 

[Tangwena]

Hey, thanks for all the awesome info. I'm definitely going to give it a try.
I'm a big health nut, especially gut health, as imo that's the engine room for a robust body and mind, so I'm into fermented foods big-time, as they provide the gut with all sorts of beneficial probiotics and microbes. This method of cob fermentation has got me wondering if it too would be a good source of probiotics, and I'm betting it is. I'd imagine that regularly ingesting fermented cob would eventually colonise all these rare and exotic beneficial fermented cannabis microbes and bacteria in your gut, and that can only be a good thing. Might even be a good business plan for you. Cobs advertised as Mile High Probiotics of Green Dream Microbes Gut health is big business these days.

Well thats a new one Mick. If thats the case I've def been colonised my gut must be full of them ha ha.
But why not it must be possible that they leave something behind.
There is so much we dont know about canna.

 

[DRM Ranch]

Nice project there did you sweat them? I cant see any mention of it.
You dont have to sweat them but it speeds up the fermentation.
If you dont sweat them then you will need to store them sealed in a warm place 35c or higher to get them to ferment properly.
If you have then when you open the packages you should get a sweet fermented smell.
The smell will be very sexy like a very floral smelling hash.
Once you get a bit of experience you will be able to tell from this smell if its fermented enough or needs a little longer.
Once you are happy with it you will need to dry the cobs. I like to leave a trace of moisture in the center it helps keep it smelling good.
If you fully dry them they will be fine, but if a little moisture is left its better to vacuum seal them to age to stop any chance of mold growing.
Either fully dried or sealed up they keep for years. They will slowly loose their strong odor as they dry its normal.
This method is not for looks or smell but for the different high you can produce.

I did not sweat them; my thought was to allow moisture content to equalize a bit, I have now moved them to a 35c or higher location.

The strain is somewhat floral from the outset, I am familiar with the scent of fermentation though not of cannabis fermentation in particular. After opening at the three or four week mark I will reply with any scent notes I can.

 

[jonhova]

How do you compress them into sauare bricks before sweating them? It looks badass that way.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=75894&pictureid=1820327&=1]View Image[/url]

How do you compress them into sauare bricks before sweating them? It looks badass that way.

Chocolate bar size huh? Ya, I like that too. But I think you can just get a mold and press it in, then vacuum seal. Or mold, wrap, then vac to sweat...

 

[hoki2test]

LOVE THIS THREAD...THANKS HEAPS TANGWENA FOR ALL THE INFO,CANT WAIT TO MAKE MY FIRST COB!

 

[Tangwena]

Malawi x Ethiopian

Malawi x Ethiopian

I have dried the cobs to about 10% moisture they are solid to the touch and the smell has died down but is still funky.
The Golden Tiger cobs once aged smell like wild honey when cured properly.

These are the Malawi x Ethiopian now ready to age.
Pics from birth to maturity.

If I had dried them at the stage of the second picture they would have stayed more aromatic and flavorful. But leaving them to cure longer makes them less tasty but the high is deeper whereas the early cured high would have been more speedy.
By stopping the cure at the stage you prefer you can get different effects to suite different tastes.
When I smoked I liked the tasty speedy style but now I chew it I prefer the deeper longer lasting trippy effects.

 

[EvergreenState]

More great looking cobs T. You should plan a get together with all of the cob crowd here on icmag. I'd love to try some of your now famous cobs. I don't think however that I'll be chewing on any of your crotch sweated cobs.

 

[Tangwena]

Ha Ha its funny though some people dont get off on the small amount I chew. I have given up trying to understand doses they are so individual.
Here is some pieces off of the 2 colas I fermented they smell so good I wish I could smoke them but I dont want to die just yet my lungs are finished.

The cobs will all be amazing in about 2 months time then I can see whats in each high.
These 2 pics show the tip off of a dried Panama cob and the same plant cured differently both the same age but will have different highs.

 

[Old Toker]

View Image

The photo of the tip of the cob looks like it has a white haze on the dried cob. Is that "normal" or just a photo fault?

As usual....love your cob thread. Mine are still curing. Will supply pics soon.

 

[EvergreenState]

Ha Ha its funny though some people dont get off on the small amount I chew. I have given up trying to understand doses they are so individual.
Here is some pieces off of the 2 colas I fermented they smell so good I wish I could smoke them but I dont want to die just yet my lungs are finished.

The cobs will all be amazing in about 2 months time then I can see whats in each high.
These 2 pics show the tip off of a dried Panama cob and the same plant cured differently both the same age but will have different highs.




View Image View Image

I've found that some people who don't get high or don't get very high off medibles, will get high (very high - I use one third of a gram of bud) per serving, if the pot in the medibles is decarbed correctly and if they eat some fat with them. Eat a chunk of cheese, eat a cheeseburger, drink a milkshake, chips, anything with a good amount of fat. If they don't get high after that, then they either took too small of a dose, the pot in the medibles wasn't decarbed or both. I always decarb my pot before I put it in any recipe.
I decarb by putting my buds in a preheated oven at 220F for ten to 15 minutes depending on the moisture level of the bud, take out the bud and preheat to 250F. Once the oven reaches 250F put the bud back in for 50 to 60 minutes. Done and ready to use in a recipe. Works everytime.

 

[Tangwena]

I've found that some people who don't get high or don't get very high off medibles, will get high (very high - I use one third of a gram of bud) per serving, if the pot in the medibles is decarbed correctly and if they eat some fat with them. Eat a chunk of cheese, eat a cheeseburger, drink a milkshake, chips, anything with a good amount of fat. If they don't get high after that, then they either took too small of a dose, the pot in the medibles wasn't decarbed or both. I always decarb my pot before I put it in any recipe.
I decarb by putting my buds in a preheated oven at 220F for ten to 15 minutes depending on the moisture level of the bud, take out the bud and preheat to 250F. Once the oven reaches 250F put the bud back in for 50 to 60 minutes. Done and ready to use in a recipe. Works everytime.

Hi man yeah I think its def dose size take enough and you can pull down an elephant ha ha.
I dont bother decarbing the buds they work just fine for me as they are.
Lucky I am a pensioner and already lost most of my mind so the effects are awesome.
I had half a gram of GT from last years its about 9 months aged today.
Love this stuff it gets to every nook and crany of your head.

 

[Tangwena]

The photo of the tip of the cob looks like it has a white haze on the dried cob. Is that "normal" or just a photo fault?

As usual....love your cob thread. Mine are still curing. Will supply pics soon.

Hi man you are right I wanted to see what was beneath the dark skin so I scratched it, its quite hard like beef jerky.
Make sure you post some pics when you open them I can never see enough cobs.
If it was legal here we could have curing show and tell nights. I have heard a few guys taking their cobs to them and being very well received.

 

[Mick]

I've found that some people who don't get high or don't get very high off medibles, will get high (very high - I use one third of a gram of bud) per serving, if the pot in the medibles is decarbed correctly and if they eat some fat with them. Eat a chunk of cheese, eat a cheeseburger, drink a milkshake, chips, anything with a good amount of fat. If they don't get high after that, then they either took too small of a dose, the pot in the medibles wasn't decarbed or both. I always decarb my pot before I put it in any recipe.
I decarb by putting my buds in a preheated oven at 220F for ten to 15 minutes depending on the moisture level of the bud, take out the bud and preheat to 250F. Once the oven reaches 250F put the bud back in for 50 to 60 minutes. Done and ready to use in a recipe. Works everytime.

I remember reading a thread here about some people not getting off on edibles, and it turns out that they are lacking a certain enzyme in the liver that breaks down THC or something, and so can never get high from them.
Got a friend who never seemed to get off on edibles. She's small and petite and so I concluded she may be lacking that enzyme too, so as a kind of experiment she had 3 super strong edibles, one of which would floor me. After about an hour and a half she was starting to look a bit wrong, so I asked is she was cool, and all she could keep saying was "milk", and then started sucking on her boyfriends nipples, haha. Gotta love edibles

 

[Tangwena]

Thats a good story I believe every word of it to.
A lot of the time i think some people dont recognise the high, they are so used to getting stoned and couch locked.
If they take enough to go over the edge they are gone just like the chick in the story.
One cob I tried of the Panama x Honduras is so clear its hard to see how high you are.
There is no stone to feel you are just energised and clear headed. I am looking forward to seeing how it ages as its only just starting to show itself.

 

[EvergreenState]

Hi man yeah I think its def dose size take enough and you can pull down an elephant ha ha.
I dont bother decarbing the buds they work just fine for me as they are.
Lucky I am a pensioner and already lost most of my mind so the effects are awesome.
I had half a gram of GT from last years its about 9 months aged today.
Love this stuff it gets to every nook and crany of your head.

You don't decarb because the cob process does that for you. I'm talking about regular medibles and why some people don't get high from them. If you decarb the buds first before you put them in any recipe for medibles and you dose properly, it usually doesn't take much, then you will be get high; if you also eat them with fat or if the medibles have a good amount of fat in the recipe. With the medibles I make that way, I've never seen them fail to work for anyone.

 

[Tangwena]

You don't decarb because the cob process does that for you. I'm talking about regular medibles and why some people don't get high from them. If you decarb the buds first before you put them in any recipe for medibles and you dose properly, it usually doesn't take much, then you will be get high; if you also eat them with fat or if the medibles have a good amount of fat in the recipe. With the medibles I make that way, I've never seen them fail to work for anyone.

You are right of course I misunderstood you my bad.
Yes fat def increases the uptake I used to use coco butter to extract and just melt a piece on my tongue.
But since I started chewing the cob I dont bother. As you say if I was to chew some cheese ect with it it would def help.

 

[DRM Ranch]

Small update, moving the two COBs to a warmer location did initiate the sweat. The vacuum seal seemed to have failed, which may have actually been a good thing as that is more in line with loosely wrapping in plastic instruction.

I have high hopes I put them in the COBs at the correct moisture level, and that I can manage the remainder of the cure correctly.

 

[Tangwena]

Small update, moving the two COBs to a warmer location did initiate the sweat. The vacuum seal seemed to have failed, which may have actually been a good thing as that is more in line with loosely wrapping in plastic instruction.

I have high hopes I put them in the COBs at the correct moisture level, and that I can manage the remainder of the cure correctly.

Got any pics? Dont be too sure the vacuum has failed.
When the pot is sweating it produces gases most probably just water vapor ect which give the appearance that the vacuum has failed.
McKush who sweats his cobs in a crock pot at about 60c has had then blow up like a balloon in the hot water.
Only to shrink back to tight when they cool down.
I use lower temps around 40c and when they sweat it gives the appearance of the bags being loose as well. But the seal is intact.
It will not harm them but you could check them at anytime by opening them and then resealing them it doesn't hurt them.