Malawi Style Cob Curing.

[SweetSue]

The cob in fermentation called to me so I opened it up for a look. I like the feel and smell of it. I’ll let it dry to the touch and get the cure started later tonight.

And a look at how it compares to the ones running a few days ahead. Different chemovars, and I may have overcooked the Malawi a bit in sweat, but I think I got closer to the color you’re trying to help me see.

 

[Tangwena]

Hi Sue looking good there you will see in the future all the different colors and results that are possible with this cure but for a first time you pretty much nailed it.
Yesterday I found 4 cobs I had forgotten about since they were sweated in January!

They are very dark almost black I am drying them now they would have aged while wet as they were soaking wet when I opened the bag.
No rot no mold just a hashish like stick.
Once they are dried I will test them as they would be already aged. Sometimes mistakes lead to discoveries fingers crossed.

 

[SweetSue]

How fortuitous Tangwena. I had a friend recently leave her Everclear tincture mix in the MB2 for a week because life got demanding. When she made the gummies they hit with more punch.

I love happy accidents. That’s how I learned that already decarbed flower gets you higher when you smoke it. Who’d of thought? Lol!

Before I seal it up for the cure I’ll have to sample. You understand. I was already high when I opened today’s cob. Tomorrow’s a new opportunity.

 

[Tangwena]

How fortuitous Tangwena. I had a friend recently leave her Everclear tincture mix in the MB2 for a week because life got demanding. When she made the gummies they hit with more punch.

I love happy accidents. That’s how I learned that already decarbed flower gets you higher when you smoke it. Who’d of thought? Lol!

Before I seal it up for the cure I’ll have to sample. You understand. I was already high when I opened today’s cob. Tomorrow’s a new opportunity.

I have found I need to get the dose right first time as if I try topping up with the same strain it just gets numb and stony which I dont like.

I have tried using different cobs of different strains and some work extremely well and some are duds.
But one mix I find is out of this world is 0.35g of Panama at 9am which is a spaced out cruizy day then the Thai Golden Tiger cob about 0.1 to 0.2g its like a shot of crazy speed.

It boosts the high back to start and you get an unreal spaced out fun ride where your brain is in overdrive and full of shit.

I was at a party and it was like I was a professional comedian I had the whole group laughing.
Everyone was having a ball and so was I.
My wife had to drag me away to go home I felt like I could have gone on all night ha ha.
Every time I use those 2 together its like that.

To quote my wife " its like I am a dog in a room full of bitches I dont know who's but to sniff first". i love it for parties and it will faithfully reproduce those effects every time its a dynamite combo taken over that time period.

There is so much experimenting to do with these highs its a lifes work for everyone.
As you experienced the effects are unique unlike any other cannabis effect. Its also very addictive I cant function straight anymore for more than a day. These highs last all day and then you sleep all night so its stumble out of bed, check out the day, decide how high you want to get and it evolves from there.
Sometimes it feels like every day is somebody elses day ha ha.
Like today it GT it feels like its going to be warm and loving and when we go to the shops shortly.
I will get some real mind trips when I get eye contact with someone.
Its like I down load everything they are thinking and feel what they feel. It can lead to some very powerful moments in time emotionally. Its starting to get a hold of me know things are getting all sweet a mellow.

 

[SweetSue]

Hahaha! Every time I read of your experiences I get goosebumps of anticipation. I came into a batch of Zamaldelica crosses, including one that crossed the green and red phenos. I'll have lots to play with in the coming years.

I'll have to get some GT seeds. What you describe is what I'm looking for. Lol!

 

[Tangwena]

Hahaha! Every time I read of your experiences I get goosebumps of anticipation. I came into a batch of Zamaldelica crosses, including one that crossed the green and red phenos. I'll have lots to play with in the coming years.

I'll have to get some GT seeds. What you describe is what I'm looking for. Lol!

If you are lucky enough to get the Thai and Malawi phenos then you will have everything you need to get in touch with your other self, you know the cool one that always didn't quite make it out.

Well guess what this gear will have them both out and running out of control in the most beautiful way possible. You will get to know a side of yourself that you will love and others will to.

I can tell you have the right mentality for this treat.
Its not for everyone thats why theres a club for the people who know.

 

[Neiko]

I made my 1st cob and it has been sweating for about 17 hours now and I don't see any sweat yet. Temps stable at 103-105 F. I'll post pics when I take it out of the box. My question is......when curing for 1-3 months why do you open them every handful of days? Do you dry them each time? How do you store the completed cobs, in a jar with a humidity pack?

 

[Tangwena]

I made my 1st cob and it has been sweating for about 17 hours now and I don't see any sweat yet. Temps stable at 103-105 F. I'll post pics when I take it out of the box. My question is......when curing for 1-3 months why do you open them every handful of days? Do you dry them each time? How do you store the completed cobs, in a jar with a humidity pack?

Hi Neiko I saw the pics you posted also pics from another member who had made a cob as well.

I couldn't tell very well from the photos but the buds look too dry especially the other members. I forget his name.
How long were the buds dried for?
Usually if they are too dry they dont show visible sweat in the bag.

However that does not mean they are not sweating just that they are not moist enough for it to be obvious.
After 24 hrs open the bag and see if the cob is damp inside.
If it is just carry on as normal you will get a different type of result to the one Sue got.

There are dozens of different results you can get from this cure one of which is a golden colored cure (Malawi Gold) and this is produced by slightly drier buds going into the cob in the first place.
Once you remove the cob from the sweating IF it is damp it will cure. So reseal the cob and keep it in a warm place 30c or above to cure/ferment for 2 to 3 weeks.

The reason we frequently inspect the curing or aging cobs is because they evolve in the cure and we all have different tastes.
Curing is an art not a mechanical process and needs to be guided to get the best results.
During these inspections if we find them still a bit too damp we can dry them further. For this stage of the cure they only need to be damp not wet so I like to dry them slowly until the outside of the cob feels dry then reseal them. Over time the moisture in the center spreads throughout the compressed cob we need it to be only slightly moist to age not wet.
You dont have to do this and you can still get a good result without doing it but I am trying to get you to understand the process and once you do you will be able to do it with your eyes closed, its really not that complicated once you get a few cobs under your belt you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Maybe its just a case of too much information. I know if I was to physically show you hands on it would make sense.

Good results can be obtained by just following the basic recipe but outstanding results come from hands on control over the process.

When you check them regularly you will be learning how the smell and texture evolve during the process when it is at its peak for terpine smell and texture is the primo time to halt the cure and begin the aging.

I always keep the cobs vacuum sealed as I have so many I dont get to look after them in storage and vacuum sealing them even after drying fully, just keeps them like a time capsule until you are ready to use them. Or as I do remove an inch for daily use and reseal the rest for storage.
Once dried they will keep just the same as any jar cured bud
But for peace of mind I prefer to keep them sealed.
They are safe for years even if still a bit damp.

 

[Neiko]

Thanks Tangwena. They must have been a little to dry. They were too wet to do smoke test with and the sugar leaves were still pliable. I opened after 24 hours and still had no sweat. The smell was pretty intense in a good way though. It immediately filled the kitchen with a strong citrus aroma. Pretty over powering actually so something is happening. The cobs were not wet, maybe slightly damp but dried quickly. I just resealed for the ferment stage and will carry on. Thanks for all the help. The 1st time I do anything I get hung up on the details until I've worked through it. I'll get a feel for it I'm sure.

 

[Tangwena]

Thanks Tangwena. They must have been a little to dry. They were too wet to do smoke test with and the sugar leaves were still pliable. I opened after 24 hours and still had no sweat. The smell was pretty intense in a good way though. It immediately filled the kitchen with a strong citrus aroma. Pretty over powering actually so something is happening. The cobs were not wet, maybe slightly damp but dried quickly. I just resealed for the ferment stage and will carry on. Thanks for all the help. The 1st time I do anything I get hung up on the details until I've worked through it. I'll get a feel for it I'm sure.

Sounds about right the intense smell is a good sign you are on your way to a lovely what I would call golden cure I am sure it will turn out different from Sues but equally good.

 

[Neiko]

Ok so here's the before and after sweat pics. They lost 1.5 grams of moisture during the sweat.
Before

After
It smells wonderful can't wait to try it.

 

[SweetSue]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but drier buds going in will benefit from a longer fermentation stage?

 

[Tangwena]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but drier buds going in will benefit from a longer fermentation stage?

Exactly and warmer as well if possible, long and slow and warm.
With all the different cobs you guys have going at the moment you will get a large range of results due to the differing moisture levels at the start.
All will be good just the highs will range from aromatic to dense and deep.
From what I have seen though a little patience wouldn't go astray ha ha. Trying them to soon will not help as people will be reporting no effects ect when the cobs have not even started to cure let alone age.
Its understandable of course but can lead to disappointment and may put potential converts off with all the spurious comments and uninformed conjecture flying around.
Welcome to my world, when i started this thread it was like that on this forum thank god it has calmed down these days.
Keep up the good work Sue you are wise beyond your years.

 

[Tangwena]

Ok so here's the before and after sweat pics. They lost 1.5 grams of moisture during the sweat.
Before
https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=76462&pictureid=1834755View Image
Afterhttps://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=76462&pictureid=1834754View Image
It smells wonderful can't wait to try it.

Neiko wrap that up and forget about it for a month it is dry enough already and will not need further drying at any stage.
If you can keep it in a warm place during that time all the better you will get a lovely result after a month and it will only get better from there as it ages it looks great from the photos.

 

[SweetSue]

Lol! I’m the most impatient among them. I’m also really good at keeping everyone focused on the prize.

Thank you for keeping tabs on us. The thread blew up unexpectedly. Hehe! We have a slew of cobs that’ll be made in the next couple weeks as harvest windows open. They’ll catch on quickly.

 

[Dr. Grinspoon]

I have been exploring

I have been exploring

Hello Everyone,

Some folks have reported sausage sort of aromas in fermenting cob. I found this:

https://www.meatsandsausages.com/sausage-types/fermented-sausage

A big read, but an inspiration with cobs in mind. It does not explain anything about cobs or what happens in them. It talks about sausage fermentation stage and temperatures. They are somewhat similar to the stages of cobbing.

 

[repuk]

Yes, both fermentations are lactic ones. That's where the "sickly sweet" smell comes from.

Good find!

 

[TychoMonolyth]

Maybe I missed this

- How much weight do wet buds lose? (wet=2 day dried)
- Does the weight loss continue after a 2 month cure?

I want to make 1oz finished cobs.


Neiko, how "fresh" were your buds?

Ok so here's the before and after sweat pics. They lost 1.5 grams of moisture during the sweat.
Before
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=76462&pictureid=1834755&thumb=1]View Image[/url]
After[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=76462&pictureid=1834754&thumb=1]View Image[/url]
It smells wonderful can't wait to try it.

 

[Neiko]

It normally takes my buds about 7-10 days to dry in a room at 68F and 55% RH. I took those at about 3 days. The rest of the harvest was dry in 6 days this time. I should've probably cobbed them after 2 days. I was shooting for the point where it was just a little too wet to smoke a tester. I was surprised that it only lost 1.5 grams.

 

[Neiko]

Neiko wrap that up and forget about it for a month it is dry enough already and will not need further drying at any stage.
If you can keep it in a warm place during that time all the better you will get a lovely result after a month and it will only get better from there as it ages it looks great from the photos.

I did just that. I sealed it back up and put it back in my sweat box. The temps are averaging 80-85F. Is that too warm for an extended cure?