Malawi Style Cob Curing.

[Tangwena]

Chocolate cob

Chocolate cob

For those doubters that this was a piece of cob, once broken apart you can see the ugly (to some) buds. This smokes with menthol flavor and no coughing, smooth as silk with a clear energetic high.
To me green dried buds are harsh and un processed, pretty to look at and smell but still a harsh smoke. Cobs done well produce smooth smoking sometimes ugly to look at to some but once they taste it their opinion changes. I am at a fishing camp with hundreds of people and the ones who have tasted cobs want nothing else now.



Tangwena

 

[ThaiBliss]

When I was a young smoker, almost all buds were well cured and not green. They were gold, red, light brown, dark brown, purple, or black, possibly with some green in it as well. Pure "green bud" started showing up in the early 1980s, for me. I considered it the work of amateur growers, who were only growing to make money, and not from growers who lived the Cannabis culture. It still amazes me how a well cured bud is looked down upon. Most now judge weed by how it looks, sugary, green, and tight being the goal, more than the high itself. This is upside down to me. I'm old enough to have seen it all.

Thank you Tangwena for spreading the knowledge.

ThaiBliss

 

[Tangwena]

When I was a young smoker, almost all buds were well cured and not green. They were gold, red, light brown, dark brown, purple, or black, possibly with some green in it as well. Pure "green bud" started showing up in the early 1980s, for me. I considered it the work of amateur growers, who were only growing to make money, and not from growers who lived the Cannabis culture. It still amazes me how a well cured bud is looked down upon. Most now judge weed by how it looks, sugary, green, and tight being the goal, more than the high itself. This is upside down to me. I'm old enough to have seen it all.

Thank you Tangwena for spreading the knowledge.

ThaiBliss

Thanks for that my friend I agree with you 100%
But if the new generation of growers want to stick their heads in the sand its up to them. I will say no more. Respect brother.
Tangwena

 

[Cannabliss420]

dont get me wrong, i have respect for this. native traditions highly interest me, especially when it comes to cannabis. id love to give this a try too. my next harvest is soon, so maybe a few gram cobb side by side with the "newer" way to harvest, dry and cure for comparison. im just interested to see if infact this is a safe way to consume meds. if i wanted to share this unique curing style with some sick patients, i would just want to make sure im not poisoning them in any way. people with immune disorders can die from something that simple. thats why analytical testing would be a great advancement to your uphill battle of defending the traditional ways. if it was safe to consume, without pathogens and molds, id be curing up half my crop into cobbs. sounds really interesting and i want to give it a try real soon

 

[Tangwena]

dont get me wrong, i have respect for this. native traditions highly interest me, especially when it comes to cannabis. id love to give this a try too. my next harvest is soon, so maybe a few gram cobb side by side with the "newer" way to harvest, dry and cure for comparison. im just interested to see if infact this is a safe way to consume meds. if i wanted to share this unique curing style with some sick patients, i would just want to make sure im not poisoning them in any way. people with immune disorders can die from something that simple. thats why analytical testing would be a great advancement to your uphill battle of defending the traditional ways. if it was safe to consume, without pathogens and molds, id be curing up half my crop into cobbs. sounds really interesting and i want to give it a try real soon

All cool mate when you make a cob you can get it analysed to put your mind at rest,although i dont think getting tripped out would be much use medicinally but i am not a doctor.
I thought the less trippy strains were needed for medicine.
I look forward to seeing the results, i wish you all speed on your quest if it can help someone all the better.
Tangwena

 

[idiit]

I searched "anaerobic mold". i'm not skooled in this stuff so I did not post my googled studies and their findings.


there is a strong history/tradition of anaerobic fermentation in third world countries. there are surprisingly few negative results even under extremely dirty, contaminated conditions. mold has a problem in anaerobic conditions and if the water content is dry enough there is no anaerobic mold growth.

everyone gets to make up their own mind as to proceeding with the cob technique.

we have contaminated food (gmo), contaminated air, contaminated water everywhere in the world. look at the tremendous lead issues in many (lots) of Americas cities' city supplied water; Flint Michigan is one of many.

if something is moldy the senses like fingers, nose, eye will usually spot it right off. moldy bud crumbles easily into a fine structureless powder.

i'm not telling anyone how to proceed. the water content of the cobs needs to be dry enough after the sweat from my research and you are good to go.

the panama cob piece looked fine to me. if it doesn't look fine to you then don't sell or personally consume stuff like that.

it is good that we raised the mold issues so please don't get pissed at me 'cause I think it's important we addressed this issue.

 

[Tangwena]

All cool I think the sooner this issue is put to bed the sooner we can all rest assured that we are safe. I agree with your logic about mold and welcome investigation by science to give people piece of mind.
Sometimes the internet can spread just as much paranoia as information.
Just make sure this test is done with a properly cured and dried cob.
Tangwena

 

[idiit]

Just make sure this test is done with a properly cured and dried cob

^ yes. putting a wet cob in an anaerobic curing environment could possibly lead to mold issues.

 

[Tangwena]

If the directions are followed exactly it will never get moldy so there is no danger of mold unless it is not stored properly. If someone else wants to pay for the testing I would be happy to supply a piece of cob and jar cured bud from the same plant to compare, any takers?
Tangwena

 

[zachrockbadenof]

we have contaminated food (gmo), .

Well... growing up when we would eat watermelon, it was filled with seeds...and many times not so sweet..

same goes for corn- I grew corn in season and would have the water boiling, run out cut the corn, run inside and drop in boiling water, and more times then not the corn was not sweet... today I buy corn at the market, can leave it for a week and when cooked still sweet...

so here's one vote for GMO's..

 

[Levitationofme]

Common sence everyone, common sense.
If it looks and smells bad. Dump it.

I understand the concern. But its the same with food. And you generally don't incenerate
It completely before consuming.

I feel for those who feel they live in a contaminated world.

If cobb was somehow inoculated with botulism you would know. The seald cobb will swell with gasses. Other then that a wholesome well grown crop should be free
Of dangerous anerobic pathogens.

A poorly grown bud sprayed with dangerous chemicals to kill bugs and enhance growth
Would be a really poor choice for cobb. It would concentrate all residues and probably be most dangerous.

Again common sence. Use your eyes, your nose and a bit of common sense.

Using cobb for medical would seem unwise.
This is a phenomenal method for creating an incredible high that is very different then other methods of curing. The point is to create a mild psychedelic. If done well not that mild.

Taking psychedelic's for pain and other problems.....
Not sure that's a good idea.
Best used as a medicine for reality lol

 

[Swamp Thang]

Ha ha a medicine to "cure" reality, would be just the ticket, for sure.

As the old saying goes " Reality is a crutch for those who lack the constitution to face drugs."

 

[Levitationofme]

I have respect for those who are growing meds, it's a Noble act in my book. Obviously if used as a medical solution utmost care must be used. Especially if immune system is compromised.
I will post the numbers later, but I believe if you follow instructions the sweating for 3 days in hot car will pasteurize what's sealed in the vacuum bag.
I believe when properly prepared it's fully cured and will keep for an extended time when taken care of.

 

[Levitationofme]

2 hours at 135 degrees Fahrenheit will pasteurize a raw egg.
I'm not sure that it gets that hot in Tang's car, but it's more then sufficient over the time it spends it's first hot day sweating.

 

[Tangwena]

I have respect for those who are growing meds, it's a Noble act in my book. Obviously if used as a medical solution utmost care must be used. Especially if immune system is compromised.
I will post the numbers later, but I believe if you follow instructions the sweating for 3 days in hot car will pasteurize what's sealed in the vacuum bag.
I believe when properly prepared it's fully cured and will keep for an extended time when taken care of.

Cheers my friend Paranoia is a disease that is too easily caught. Thanks for some clarity on this.
Respect Tangwena

 

[lemonskunk]

I wasnt "shooting in the dark" jagoff... Actually I researched this coincidentally a short while before seeing this thread. Its easy, you know you have the internet right? You are the one that is ignorant. Show me your science that says the black mold in your cob that causes the weed to be more potent is safe for human consumption.

The weed doesnt turn black because of African voodoo. Its because of bacteria and mold. It might be fine for you because your immune system works. Not everybody has one that does. Thats all Im saying. Keep doing your thing but be careful and know that its potentially dangerous. If you gave me a cob without warning me it could make me sick and it did I would sue you back to your moms house.

things to google:

"microbiological contaminants of marijuana"
"everything about MOLD and marijuana"

 

[Tangwena]

I respect your right to have your opinion and your right to post it. Even though it is based on assumptions and no actual experience, stay safe, but thats all I have to say on the matter. Have a nice day.
Tangwena

 

[ZanzibarDawa]

The weed doesnt turn black because of African voodoo. Its because of bacteria and mold.

Frankly, this shows that you did not do your research properly. Just because mold can turn weed dark does by no means equal all dark weed being moldy. This is a classic deductive fallacy due to reversing a premise.
I like the voodoo part though

In fact there are many fermentation processes based on similar conditions to that in a cob.
Tobacco and silage probably being the most common. Traditional sushi is another one (yes, it is fermented and not fresh, has got nothing to do with the sushi you get outside Japan).
A classic jar cure is probably more prone to developing mold than a cob, simply because you are working in aerobic conditions. This again does not mean that jar curing is bad or always develops mold, far from it. But you have to watch the parameters much more closely. And in quite a few cases you will only beat mold by time.

May I therefore humbly suggest you do your research on both sides of the argument.

ZD

PS Tangwena, my utmost respect for your polite and respectful answer, something seen rarely on the internet

 

[hard rain]

I wasnt "shooting in the dark" jagoff... Actually I researched this coincidentally a short while before seeing this thread. Its easy, you know you have the internet right? You are the one that is ignorant. Show me your science that says the black mold in your cob that causes the weed to be more potent is safe for human consumption.

The weed doesnt turn black because of African voodoo. Its because of bacteria and mold. It might be fine for you because your immune system works. Not everybody has one that does. Thats all Im saying. Keep doing your thing but be careful and know that its potentially dangerous. If you gave me a cob without warning me it could make me sick and it did I would sue you back to your moms house.

things to google:

"microbiological contaminants of marijuana"
"everything about MOLD and marijuana"

You have a point in that we don't really know what's in the pot that is cobbed. You do though seem to be automatically assuming we are smoking mould. I'm certain there is no botrytis or black mould in the cobs I've looked with a 60x lens. What I can tell you is that it looks great and smells great. We aren't smoking some mouldy slimy bit of pot. However it hasn't been tested and this is impossible in my country.

I'm guessing a lot of imported pot from Asia and South America going back years had been stored in such a way as to do the same that we are doing to a cob. Just by the way it looked and smoked.

There are plenty of foods that are safe to ferment and can be made at home. Cigars also go through a fermentation process. This describes a bit of the process-

"In the tobacco house (la casa del tabaco) the leaves are removed from the posts and are packed into large heaps - bales - very tightly so that air will not reach the inside. Otherwise microorganisms would take oxygen from the air, and they have to obtain it by splitting the molecular chains of chemical elements."

"It is very complicated to determine when fermentation should be stopped. The process can be tracked by temperature: when it stops rising, the fermentation is approaching the end. Another method is to measure the level of the ammonia released: if it is reduced, the end is near. An experienced master determines when the fermentation is over immediately according to several indices, including the smell and external look of the leaves."

http://www.cigars4dummies.com/tobacco-curing/fermentation.html

I know cigars are dangerous but not in the sense of having dangerous bacteria.

I don't know for sure whether cobs are bad for you or not. If anyone wants to properly make one and test it that would be great. Meanwhile I will enjoy doing this to some of my pot. If you have doubts, don't do it.

 

[Swamp Thang]

Anyone who has ever consumed yogurt or cheese has enjoyed generous quantities of intentionally cultured microbes that are very beneficial to health, so, to coin a phrase, some of our best friends are microbes.

If there are "good" and "bad" microbes to be found in the food we eat, depending on preparation and storage methods, then surely the same distinctions can be made between the microbes responsible for the CONTROLLED anaerobic fermentation of nearly-dry cobbed weed in a vacuum sealed bag, as opposed to the less benign microbe strains that produce mold and decay, when WET weed is improperly stored.

Fortunately for ICMAG readers, our man on the scene Tanwena has for over the past THIRTY YEARS volunteered himself as a cob-smoking human guinea-pig, starting back during his travels in Malawi, the ancestral home of the cob, and continuing on through over the decades during which he perfected and refined the Malawi cob production method, primarily with the use of a modern vacuum packing appliance, in order to eliminate the conditions that encourage mold formation.

For me as a weed consumer seeking a more intense and clear high, THREE DECADES of human trials by a very satisfied weed connoisseur is adequate assurance that the practice of fermenting weed by the cob method IS safe, IF and only IF processing of the final product faithfully adheres with the methodology described earlier in this very educative discussion topic.