Malawi Style Cob Curing.

[Tangwena]

What I personally am after is improving the taste and potency without anything other than the natural fermentation of the buds, no chemicals other than those produced by the fermentation. Once you have a bit of practical experience under your belt you will see that you can manipulate the potency and taste of the buds/cob simply by varying the amount of pre drying of the buds prior to fermentation and the temp and time they are exposed to that temp. Couple this with the way you treat the cobs post fermenting and you have an infinitely variable outcome.
And thats not even taking into account strain, growing, harvesting and maturity.
There is a hell of a lot more to getting primo cobs than just chucking them in a heat source. It takes a lot of practice and hands on experience like making wine the mechanics are simple but the execution not so.
Tangwena

 

[Tangwena]

Whats Angola Tang?

Angola is a plant from the west African country of Angola.Most South American and African sativas will give you a very strong trippy high once fermented/cobbed.
Ace have some very good strains, Panama and Golden Tiger are my personal favorites and will give you a high you will not have experienced before cobbed.
Tangwena

 

[seeded]

Tangwena have you looked into recreating the wrap and bury technique into a method that doesn't utterly destroy the visual appeal of the end product? I don't mean any disrespect or anything but it is kind of painful to see those beautiful sativas turned into brick weed that literally resembles poo when we've all been told to avoid herb that looks like that

I think it should be able to be broken down into the individual components like the gases available, water content, temperature, duration of cure, amount of compression, etc. and eventually a method found that gives the same fermentation with the visual appeal of jar cured buds. If not at least one day when I get around to making one of these bad boys I'll be able to have a giggle about having "the shit"

 

[Tangwena]

Tangwena have you looked into recreating the wrap and bury technique into a method that doesn't utterly destroy the visual appeal of the end product? I don't mean any disrespect or anything but it is kind of painful to see those beautiful sativas turned into brick weed that literally resembles poo when we've all been told to avoid herb that looks like that

I think it should be able to be broken down into the individual components like the gases available, water content, temperature, duration of cure, amount of compression, etc. and eventually a method found that gives the same fermentation with the visual appeal of jar cured buds. If not at least one day when I get around to making one of these bad boys I'll be able to have a giggle about having "the shit"

Well my friend no disrespect taken beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for me and others who follow this path a cob is a thing of beauty, but to each his own.
A green un cured flower is a thing of beauty I agree and I love looking at flowers along with everyone else. I like getting high more, and dried flowers dont get me high I am afraid, so I have to process them to a stage where the strongest effects are brought out, and this method does that.
In the end I grow dope to get high not look at it. But I have been doing this for a very long time and hearing this same comment over and over from people who have not tried authentic cured cobs so I totally understand your view and you are entitled to it as much as the next man. Have a nice day my friend.
Tangwena

 

[seeded]

I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and understand that since I lack experience with the cob and have been tainted by anti brick weed sentiment that I can't appreciate their true nature. I've definitely got to give the method a go though because after reading the thread I'm pretty convinced your most pooish looking cob could beat my best looking jar cured buds and at the end of the day like you I consider the quality of the end product all important. So yeah I hope you don't take what I said personally or anything, I'm terrible with words and am really just curious as to how far your experiments have gone and the kind of results you've got with them.

 

[Riddleme]

Currently workin on an alternative method, will share results once finished

 

[Levitationofme]

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.
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=67486&pictureid=1681155&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=67486&pictureid=1681156&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=67486&pictureid=1681157&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=67486&pictureid=1681158&thumb=1]View Image[/url]
Tangwena

How long are you drying the plant before you start the Cob and or
Buds for the initial sweat? Couple Days in a paper Bag?

I seem to remember waiting untill it's Jar ready and I want to be sure. I have a nice little Malawi about ready in 10 days. That was how I created my Chem Dog Cob which I love. It will not be a huge harvest, so I don't want to screw up the cure..

My last attempt at buds was plagued by a poor vac seal and I just dried my couple buds. I must say, it was a complete success if creating a bud that nearly poofs into a Green Panamanian Powder is the goal.

I will not make that mistake again, I hope

 

[epicseeds]

Currently workin on an alternative method, will share results once finished

I am approaching this path too. I think a dewar flask has a lot of promise in creating the same cob environment without altering the physical look of the buds.


Please do keep us updated and I will as well. I am going to search for a dewar flask after work today.

I think strict temp control and starting bud moisture level should be studied too

With 150 g of tobacco, average temperature increases in Dewar
flasks over a 10-day period ran as high as 5.6° C. In general, the
generation of heat (thermogenesis) was directly proportional to the
percentage of moisture present, a minimum of about 30 percent being
necessary to secure measurable activity under the conditions of the
experiments.
The highest thermogenic increases occurred at incubator temperatures
of about 20° to 25° C, very little if any activity developing at
temperatures below 10° C. (50° F.) or above 45° C. (113° F.). This
experimental maximum temperature is considerably lower than the
temperature often allowed in practice by the bulk-fermentation
method, and suggests possibility of obtaining better results at
more moderate temperatures.

 

[Tangwena]

How long are you drying the plant before you start the Cob and or
Buds for the initial sweat? Couple Days in a paper Bag?

I seem to remember waiting untill it's Jar ready and I want to be sure. I have a nice little Malawi about ready in 10 days. That was how I created my Chem Dog Cob which I love. It will not be a huge harvest, so I don't want to screw up the cure..

My last attempt at buds was plagued by a poor vac seal and I just dried my couple buds. I must say, it was a complete success if creating a bud that nearly poofs into a Green Panamanian Powder is the goal.

I will not make that mistake again, I hope

Hi my friend it depends on the buds the last lot was very airy and loose so dries very quickly. I dried for only two days. Also the air in my location is very dry 40% RH. Denser type buds i dry 4 or 5 days sometimes more. I go by the feel of the bud, it needs to be still moist and sticky.
Its better a little too green than too dry.
Tangwena

 

[Tangwena]

Currently workin on an alternative method, will share results once finished

Nice my friend sharing is caring.
Tangwena

 

[Tangwena]

I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and understand that since I lack experience with the cob and have been tainted by anti brick weed sentiment that I can't appreciate their true nature. I've definitely got to give the method a go though because after reading the thread I'm pretty convinced your most pooish looking cob could beat my best looking jar cured buds and at the end of the day like you I consider the quality of the end product all important. So yeah I hope you don't take what I said personally or anything, I'm terrible with words and am really just curious as to how far your experiments have gone and the kind of results you've got with them.

All cool my friend but as you can see what with all the variable in the cure it can take a lot of trial and error to get the optimum cure for each type of bud structure nailed. I have plenty of friends doing exactly those experiments as we speak.
They all get beautiful looking cobs and report great results from many different variations of the technique. Its basically the temp of the fermentation that does the work, but getting all the other variable to line up is what really gets the special results and we haven't got that and I suspect it will be down to the experience of the person doing the cure, much like a master brewer or wine maker can produce superior beer and wine to a amateur brewer.
Tangwena

 

[Tangwena]

Swazi magic

Swazi magic

Here are some pics of some Swazi buds from the last plant at 17 weeks. I am going to dry them as per jar cure method.
Then compare them to some sweat cured buds and cobs to show what they can become with a bit of African magic.
They smell amazing Lime/Menthol and sandalwood, they should be good.


Tangwena

 

[seeded]

I should have guessed it would be like that. Different plants and growers with different requirements are going to get mixed results every time and only with experience would it get refined based on their individual needs.

And here I was hoping it wouldn't be another life long search for perfection

 

[Tangwena]

I should have guessed it would be like that. Different plants and growers with different requirements are going to get mixed results every time and only with experience would it get refined based on their individual needs.

And here I was hoping it wouldn't be another life long search for perfection

I have been doing this for more than 40 years and I get excellent results every time its not that hard if you follow the simple instructions in this thread. But I have tasted the best in Malawi and I know even my best results have a way to go. Not to say I dont get tripped out every time but I have had better if you know what I mean.
I think now its down to the strain and how its grown and when its harvested. Dont get me wrong I am more than happy with my results and people I give a taste to reckon its the best they have had. They just have never had really good cobs before thats all.
Tangwena

 

[vajra]

Here are my cobs right in the middle of the crockpot sweat period (24 hours). The crock pot, on the lowest setting, is 160 degrees or so, which may be too warm. So, I am leaving the lid off and covering it with towels. I would like 125 degrees or so. Don't know what "too hot" would be.

There are six plants of Super Silver Haze from Mr Nice Seeds, all 15-18 weekers.

Most of the cobs have one half ounce, and one cob has a full ounce.

I am sweat curing some of each plant (7-12g). To me, this simply means doing the sweat followed by a month or more in vacuumed bags in a warm place.

For comparison, I have jar cured a half ounce of each plant too.

I also have 4 ounces of flowers that I am going to make into bubble hash.

It was a big harvest for a homegrower: 12½ oz.

I am looking forward to this experiment. I have sampled several of these plants (vaporized after drying without a proper cure) and they are strong, clear, energetic, and leave no burnout the next day.

What will cobbing do to SSH....we shall see!

Thanks Tang!

 

[vajra]

Tangewa:

Questions about procedure.

Here is what I am doing, but I have a question or two. My questions are indented in blue.

1. The Sweat (Day 1)
Bag up the buds and cobs, for a sweat of 24 - 48 hours.

Question: should I let the buds / cobs dry a little after the sweat, before vacuum sealing them, or vacuum seal them directly, even if they are wet from the sweat?​

2. The Ferment (Day 2-3)
After sweat, vacuum seal bags and put them in warm place for 2 weeks or so.

Question: some of my bud is simply being "sweat cured". It is just put into a bag without any wrapping. Should this go through the very same procedure as the cobs? Does it also cure for 1 -3 months (step 4, below)?​

3. Drying the Cobs (approximately Day 15)
After two weeks, open them, and if they look right, let them dry 75%, still a little moist in the middle. Take a chunk to sample, and proceed to next step...

Questions: How long do you let them dry, typically? a week?

Also, when is the earliest you would sample some of this bud? just before the final vacuum seal?​

4. The Cure (Day 21-ish until Day 100-ish)
Vacuum seal them again, and let cure for 1 - 3 months. This can be done in vacuum bags or jars.


5. Long Term Storage
Cobs can be kept sealed for years like this.

Question: is this correct? How long have you kept cobs in good smoking/eating condition?​

How does this look? I can't wait!

 

[Tangwena]

Wow nice job there vajra you will find some magic there for sure. i answer your questions one at a time.
1. Yes i dry them until the maize husk is dry to the touch, this does not take long depending on how dry and warm the temps are. The inside will still be moist/wet.

2. Yes it needs to be slightly dried, once you remove it from the bag it will dry surprisingly fast. Most of the water will have been removed from the buds in the bag. Then vac seal and age/cure as with a cob.

3.Yes you dry them again this depends on climate but dont be afraid to open them to check, they need to be slightly moist not wet for the next stage. Then seal them up again to age. You can take a sample and dry it to use at this stage. It will be good but will get much stronger and clearer after a month or 3 aging.

4. Yes for aging I use vacuum bags but a vacuum jar is also good.

5. I have cobs over 5 years old vacuum sealed and unsealed after aging, once dried they keep forever. But vacuum sealed keeps them pristine for years. My day to day stuff is just loose in bags or jars un vacuumed it is fine if its dry.

If I may suggest as you have so many take the buds and cobs one bag at a time with different sweating times and note this on the bags. I am doing this at the moment with 4 cobs I have of Swazi. I took the first today, i will take one every day until all 4 have different sweating times. They will then be cured and aged identically, they will all be good but you will find one or two that are just the way you prefer your high and smoke. Then you can easily reproduce that cure in future.
You are doing everything perfectly and I am confident you will be amazed at the end product. Respect to you my friend and get ready for the first day of the rest of your life.
Please post lots of pictures what you are doing will benefit many others thinking of trying this.
Tangwena

 

[Tangwena]

Swazi red

Swazi red

Today I took the first of 4 cobs I have had in a yogurt maker vacuum sealed all together at 40c for 3 days. The others will be taken one at a time every day until they are all one day older than each other. To try and find the optimum cure time for these buds from this strain.
The first pic is these buds 3 days ago and then the buds now and the cob now. The smell is sweet and very seductive.


Tangwena

 

[iorama]

Has anyone tried baking some edibles with these cured cobs?

 

[Nup]

Hello again Tangwena and all!

So, a q̶u̶i̶c̶k̶ (that didnt work out hah) smoke report after about three weeks curing.

Before i start i just wanted to state what the curing conditions were.

-The cob was wrapped after five days of drying, so the weed was still fairly wet, too wet to really smoke well, as Tangwena had originally recommended.
-They were left to sweat for about 24 hours, and had been at about 40-50°C for that (in my computer).
-Once vacuumed they were left in the computer to ferment temperatures were again 40-50°.
-Six days fermenting (I decided on less time, as it was a "small" batch, compared to what people were trying with an ounce, (I had 17 grams)).
The curing was done with my jar cured buds for about two two-three weeks (started drying on the 11/11/16, then a week later, curing started, you can see them on page 90).

Ok so that out of the way, some comments!!
I'm very new to weed that isn't completely unknown street-weed, and i doubt i'v ever tried a pure sativa-type strain. So i lack reference points. But this is mostly a comparison to the jar curing method.

The way it smoked without the cob was very heavy, super heavy body. Mentally things were very relaxing and kinda "stuffy". A very confusing stone. I'm sure you guys know what i'm on about. The jar method made for a super smooth smoke (have never smoked anything that smooth)

The cob curing made a bigger differences then i was expecting. It kept its very relaxing side (physically and mentally), but the high was far clearer. No more confusion, the muddiness was, for the most part gone. So it felt less intense, but in retrospect, I think that it left me more capable then with jar cured. I'm certainly not used to it. Watching a movie to relax on a Friday was a treat and easier to keep up with.
The actual smoke was also smooth, a slight bit harsher, but still miles better then a regular baggy. (tbh so long as it doesnt rip the throat off me i'm happy, never got smoking "flavors" much).

So yeah, a definite change in quality. Really enjoyable and leaves me much more capable, which is handy when all I have had for a while is heavy smoke.
I have yet to try eating it and am very excited and looking forward to what that is supposed to be like!

One last thing, I had the misfortune of finding out that cob cured weed is much more mold resistant.

Anyhow enough rambling apologies for the mass of text.
Happy smoking, growing and curing.
-Nup