Malawi Style Cob Curing.

[epicseeds]

[A] First Trial Run

[A] First Trial Run

Still only half way through this whole thread - so much awesome information! Thank you so much Tangwena for sharing this with us.

I feel like you have handed down Old Knowledge from generations ago!

I had a branch break off a plant ~2 weeks prior to harvest so I thought I would do a test run before I try this out on some primo buds.

Here is a documentation:

I started with buds that were a day or two away from being the traditional "perfect snap" moisture level.

I was sure to remove every single tiny branch in the center of the buds. I want to try to create a new "super bud" as if it was an actual large cola bud.

I went to the grocery store and unfortunately could not find any corn on the hob with the husk intact. They must be out of season in my area currently.

Instead I got a pack of dried husks used for tamales

 

[epicseeds]

[B] First Trial Run

First Trial Run

I hadn't yet read your response that dry husks were fine but I just placed the husk in a bowl with fresh water while I hand trimmed and de-stemed the buds. When I was ready I took a paper towel and patted them down. It did not seem the husks were good at absorbing the moisture.

I would like to next experiment making a honey+water or mango puree + water solution and letting the husks soak for a few days in the fridge. I am curious if this would slightly alter flavor at all - I don't see why it shouldn't? Have you ever tried anything like this?

I then unraveled a 12 inch nylon string in to 3 pieces. I tied a tiny loop at each end to make a lasso/slip knot.

I tightly tied the strings at both ends and the middle. I used a tool to gently compact the buds at each end.

I then slowly and tightly wrapped the string around the husk. Next time I am going to try and make some hemp string from the actual plants.

After completely wrapping the husk, I used a small 2x4 to gently roll it and make uniformity.

By the end of this the husk lost all of the little moisture I had managed to put in.

I now have it wrapped in a plastic bag and hope to keep it around ~74F for 24 hours. I cannot find any area in my house any warmer as it is currently winter here.

What would you say would be the ideal temperature for this stage?

Any critique or suggestion from the above pictures?

This was all done with Blue Dream, I hope it brings out the Sativa tendencies of the strain!

 

[Tangwena]

Be careful if you dont vacuum seal it, it can get moldy, but not all the time. I would put it on top of your light shade if you are still growing. It will need about a week in the warm to cure properly. If you intend doing larger amounts get a food saver vacuum sealer machine.
There are some cheap ones on ebay even the cheap ones work well.
With the maize husks the green ones impart a sweet taste so your idea of flavoring the wrappers is a good one and should work.
Once you get into this method you will become consumed by it its addictive and the results can be stunning.
You are right this method is ancient and has been used in Africa for hundreds if not thousands of years. I just use the vacuum sealer instead of burying it like some tribes do.
It ensures that you get no mold every time. The ideal temp is between 40 and 60c, the hotter the shorter the time needed. I use a cheap yogurt maker its basically a plastic bucket with a clear top that stays at 40c constantly. I keep the vac sealed cobs in it for between 4 and 6 days. On ebay they cost around $50.
Some guys use crock pots the sought you make stews in. These are hotter even on low and ferment the cobs quickly about 12 to 24hrs is plenty.
Tangwena

 

[epicseeds]

Thanks for your input. I will be putting these in vac bags in 24 hours. I actually did end up putting the bag on top of my hood.

Can't wait to watch the transformation and am super excited to try it with some primo mature bud!

I actually do have a crockpot as well. I think I will go ahead and vac seal it now and try placing it in a crock pot for 24 hours.

 

[epicseeds]

I started researching what goes on during tobacco fermentation and I feel we could gain a lot of insight if we understood it. Perhaps someone here knows more about the art?

https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43968481/PDF

The bacterial theory of tobacco
fermentation was most definitely brought forward in 1891 by Suchsland
(21), who isolated bacteria from sweating tobacco, prepared pure
cultures, and inoculated these back into tobacco. His claim that the
flavor and odor of a specific type of tobacco could be developed in
another type through the use of bacterial cultures has not, however,
been substantiated.

These workers showed that a variety of organisms were
present, in what were considered large numbers, i.e., as high as
112,500 bacteria and 12,500 fungus spores on 100 cm^ of freshly
fermented leaf.
Suchsland's b

Does this suggest we could potentially do this with cannabis flower?!

I have seen you guys suggest that cob making is like the art of wine making. If the above could be applied it could be the start of a control on product

 

[Tangwena]

I started researching what goes on during tobacco fermentation and I feel we could gain a lot of insight if we understood it. Perhaps someone here knows more about the art?

https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43968481/PDF



Does this suggest we could potentially do this with cannabis flower?!

I have seen you guys suggest that cob making is like the art of wine making. If the above could be applied it could be the start of a control on product

Thats exactly what we are doing, just like tobacco. There have been heaps of posts by ZanzibarDawa earlier in this thread discussing those exact reactions.
Its just truly curing the plant for eating or smoking. Just drying and aging the bud, is not curing the plant material just aging it.
This cure as in tobacco alters the plant material and seems to change the resin and other oils profiles, quite significantly in some cases. Like I said earlier the Africans in particular the Malawians have been onto it for ages.
Beats me why it was not more popular in the west, its no secret. It seems to be gaining popularity slowly though.
IMO if its not cured this way its not worth smoking and is raw. But thats just me everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Tangwena

 

[Dog Star]

Epicseeds those are gold to read..

thanx for sharin

 

[Dog Star]

Maded cob inside mylar baggie,didnt use natural materials except those wraping
around cob to compress her properly.

Shes now on "sweating" but its not vacumed at all,was go this way cause i sees
i get those sweet curing smells with this method few last times so additional
step of vacuming is avoided totaly.

Will show her for a week or 10 days.. its on one place that gives 40-50 C all the time
so temps are pretty steady.

Interesting info in Epicseeds link is that they say that sweetest smell of tobacco
is when temps are 48 C in sweating mode.. maybe thats a goldy-locks also for
cannabis as we made so simmilar and get those sweet smells.

 

[Snook]

I'm reading post #1. a little late but finally arrived.

I've read bits from another of your threads elsewhere and this cobbing seems to me akin to water cureing. It looked likea turd when done too. It was too long ago to remember the process but it tasted like a turd too! and although not your direct advice, have already dated and stuck 3 grams in a film canister in the freezer, see it in june and another bud in a small jar on my light in the grow room>WTF, cant hurt. I will read the rest and get started.. thanks

 

[McKush]

Thats exactly what we are doing, just like tobacco. There have been heaps of posts by ZanzibarDawa earlier in this thread discussing those exact reactions.
Its just truly curing the plant for eating or smoking. Just drying and aging the bud, is not curing the plant material just aging it.
This cure as in tobacco alters the plant material and seems to change the resin and other oils profiles, quite significantly in some cases. Like I said earlier the Africans in particular the Malawians have been onto it for ages.
Beats me why it was not more popular in the west, its no secret. It seems to be gaining popularity slowly though.
IMO if its not cured this way its not worth smoking and is raw. But thats just me everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Tangwena

It's not just you Tang! Not sure ill ever stop smoking it but will start to always cure it from now on

 

[Shmavis]

I’ll finally be trying to do this within a couple weeks - really excited. I have a vac sealer and will be using it. I have a crockpot I could use but instead I was thinking of using my seedling heat mat with a some dish towels on top of it inside a cardboard box... think that would work?

 

[epicseeds]

I don't see why a heating pad wouldnt work. Apparently in tobacco they shoot for ~120F and a heating pad should be able to easily reach that.

 

[Shmavis]

Thanks, epicseeds.

I think that's what I'll try.

 

[Levitationofme]

Basic CVS heating pad gets to 130 degrees on
High at last check.

 

[Tangwena]

Swazi Cobs

Swazi Cobs

Finally finished the Swazis, this is the last of the plants and I expect the best from the woody lime smell very potent indicators.
These cobs and the loose buds will be fermented in the yogurt maker for 2 to 3 days. Once i see the loose buds turn orange and red they will be removed, partially dried and then re sealed and vacuumed to cure for a month before being dried about 75% then sealed up to age for 2 months or more. They will then be as good as they are going to be and ready for consumption.

Tangwena

 

[epicseeds]

It can be the blink of the eye, however it can also feel like forever.

In youth we fly through, powered primarily by hormones. With some years under your belt, you learn how to make every moment last.....as if there might never be another one, because actually there might not be.

Whats Angola Tang?

 

[epicseeds]

I think I may have found a patent that takes the Cob method, especially the sweating part to a scientific level. This pretty much made a giant can that allows you to control the environment including oxygen levels.

It got me thinking, has anyone ever tried jarring their buds and using the little hose that comes on the nice vac sealers?

I think I will try jarring some fresh bud in a very small jar and suck out all the oxygen. I will then try placing these jars in a crock pot and try to keep temps around 120 F for 24 hours and see if every extra 24 hours after helps in any way.

I bet something like this would work too https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Vacuum_flask

I want to try and keep the structure of the buds and not compact them.

This actually looks exactly like a type of device scientists would use to study tobacco terpenes with in a lab in the 1940s - check the study I posted earlier in the thread

 

[epicseeds]

I like the cobs to make you feel universal love and happiness like MDMA with the funny sativa laughing grass effects as well. I dont think there is a better feeling in the world than loving everybody and laughing your arse off all day long.

You have perfectly described exactly what I chase for in weed.

I find blue dream can be like this in high doses from normal cured buds - cant wait to see what happens to branches that made it to 6 weeks in cob form.

What seed pack can you recommend that would get close to this cobbed? I am very wary of growing a 12-14 week strain though....anything anyone can recommend that finishes in 9-10 weeks?

China Yunnan sounds really interesting! http://www.aceseeds.org/en/new-strains/chinayunnanfem.html

Chinese Yunnan is an exotic plant, a possible connection between the classical indicas and the South East Asian sativas.

It shows features of both sides of the cannabis spectrum. On one hand, it grows strong and compact with beautiful wide leaves and the hash plant look. Its flowers ripen quickly with a high resin production and sweet creamy scents. On the other hand, it shows some Asian sativa features which can be appreciated in the beginning of its effect and in certain incensey and woody aromas.

With all our efforts and care, we offer this rarity to the growers’ community even though it has barely been introduced into modern breeding. We hope that you will preserve this special landrace line and use it for your breeding projects.

I just took my vac bagged cob out of the 24 hour crock pot. The temp of the water was like very warm bath water.


I took the cob out the vac bag and it was really wet and had the sickly sweet smell I think everyone is talking about. It smelled almost grassy like too.

I got a fresh vac bag and sealed it up and put it back in the crock pot on warm temp. I think i will let it sit here for another 2 days and go from there.

 

[epicseeds]

Lost post for the day, about half way through that tobacco study and think people may find this interesting https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43968481/PDF

I really feel the above PDF will give someone who is interested in the science behind what is going on in the cob a great insight

 

[Tangwena]

Hi my friend you are getting right into it aren't you, thats awesome. Some fellow cob enthusiasts and myself on another forum have been sharing info and results over the past few months and have had some very good results from pooling our collective experiences and results.
You are spot on in some of your assumptions the 40c to 65c is indeed the magic number.
A fellow on that forum had spectacular results using 60c for times varying from 6 hrs to 24 hours on multiple batches of cobs and logging the data. New year we should start getting results after they have been aging for over a month, but preliminary results are very good already and I expect them to get even better as the cobs age.
The best results seem to come from sativa and sativa dominant strains. Indica dominant strains just get a lot heavier and similar to Opium in their effects.But if thats what you are after then its just the ticket.
I personally prefer the sativa type highs and anything under 14 weeks I dont even consider. Chewed the cob from a sativa will last anything from 8 to 12 hrs and i have cobs that only require o.1grams to get high as a kite for 8hrs. So for personal use you can see an ounce cob will last for a very long time. If you have multiple cobs from multiple strains the yield becomes less important than the effect.
I would personally grow a plant that yields only 3 or 4 ounces of pure heaven than a plant that yields a pound of boring sedative type buds. But thats because I use it for recreation and experiencing astral type trips.
As far as jars go yes it works, just use a vacuum attachment to remove the air and proceed as for cobs.
Tangwena