Malawi Style Cob Curing.

[Tangwena]

just to say high 2 the cob masters and let you know that everything is fine , it's been 3 months of vacuum and room temperature, we're continuing in the same way. stay alive and well View attachment 19101325 View attachment 19101323 View attachment 19101324

Nice color there it seems to have cured nicely have you tried it yet?
3 months is a good time to test it and decide whether it needs more drying.

 

[Cap.420]

I tried it yesterdayThe wonderful smell stayed all night on my mustache. It's hard for me to define it, but it's like some finest spice from the pastThe feeling of high is crystal clear and narcotic at the same Way , but the feeling in the body is a buzzing all over

 

[Tangwena]

I tried it yesterdayThe wonderful smell stayed all night on my mustache. It's hard for me to define it, but it's like some finest spice from the pastThe feeling of high is crystal clear and narcotic at the same Way , but the feeling in the body is a buzzing all over

Very nice as it ages the crystal clear high will dominate and the narcotic diminish as long as it remains sealed up during aging.
Yesterday I had some year old Mulanje the stone had vanished and was replaced by a very strong positive joy to be alive mixed with boundless energy its crazy how the aging effects cobs.

 

[Buzzzzd]

Well, Harvest 2024 is in the can!!!!
Now we wait.....
These guys have just left the 7 day cure and will dry overnite and then resealed.... the middle top two are infused with molasses so that could be interesting...

and a close up...

and just when I was counting my "chickens" and got to 86 and then elation turns to despair.....

I found two earlier cobs has gone kaput!!!!! They are now fodder for the worms!!!
But on another front...I had been experimenting with another form of pressing and decided that the pipe was working better and abandoned it - I was about to toss it and found this...

It has been sitting in the press for maybe a month...no sweating but I sealed it up and put it in the Curolator for 7 days...what the hell, might prove to be interesting !!!
Well, that's about it...I have another 8 in the Curolator now and that pretty much wraps it up - I hope everyone's harvests and experiments are progressing smoothly......
And a big for all the help in this adventure!!!

 

[Tangwena]

Well, Harvest 2024 is in the can!!!!
Now we wait.....
These guys have just left the 7 day cure and will dry overnite and then resealed.... the middle top two are infused with molassas so that could be interesting...
View attachment 19102281
and a close up...
View attachment 19102292
and just when I was counting my "chickens" and got to 86 and then elation turns to despair.....
View attachment 19102293
I found two earlier cobs has gone kaput!!!!! They are now fodder for the worms!!!
But on another front...I had been experimenting with another form of pressing and decided that the pipe was working better and abandoned it - I was about to toss it and found this...
View attachment 19102294
View attachment 19102295
It has been sitting in the press for maybe a month...no sweating but I sealed it up and put it in the Curolator for 7 days...what the hell, might prove to be interesting !!!
Well, that's about it...I have another 8 in the Curolator now and that pretty much wraps it up - I hope everyone's harvests and experiments are progressing smoothly......
And a big for all the help in this adventure!!!

86! I'd say you can afford to loose a few ha ha.
They look great from the close ups and should cure nicely from here.
If you haven't got a vacuum sealer you had better keep a very close eye on them for more mold.
I had some year old Mulanje yesterday and was blown away by the instant wiping away of all my aches and pains I am sure you will like it to.

 

[CDNINCA]

Hey @Buzzzzd, If you don't have one I'd suggest getting a vacuum sealer if you can swing one. They are, in my opinion, a key piece of gear that one needs to do this. I'm sure there are other ways to achieve the same results but having one sure makes life easier! The cobs look great, I hope you've got some friends to share with - you've got heaps! Cheers!

 

[Buzzzzd]

If you haven't got a vacuum sealer

I had tried a vacuum sealer and had no luck at all. So then I started using a ziplok bag with the zip cut off - I tuck the formed cob into the side, roll it up and then using an adapter to fit my central vac I suck all the air out and start twisting the extra part and keep twisting the hell out of the "stem" and then fold it over the edge and tape it in place, maintaining the tight twist, and then further hold it with and elastic band which also hold the info sheet. That's why all my cobs have a sort of neck and head - the elastic forms the neck!! If I was more talented I could make a video because it's hard to describe.

 

[mike-or-ozzy]

I had tried a vacuum sealer and had no luck at all. So then I started using a ziplok bag with the zip cut off - I tuck the formed cob into the side, roll it up and then using an adapter to fit my central vac I suck all the air out and start twisting the extra part and keep twisting the hell out of the "stem" and then fold it over the edge and tape it in place, maintaining the tight twist, and then further hold it with and elastic band which also hold the info sheet. That's why all my cobs have a sort of neck and head - the elastic forms the neck!! If I was more talented I could make a video because it's hard to describe.

It is an art, and you mr Buzzed are certainly an artist. In the end, it all looks like it is supposed to look. Nice job dude.

 

[Buzzzzd]

Hey Cobbers.....here is a short tutorial of my sealing process.....video would be better but then you would see the mess in my shop !!!
First, tuck the cob up along the side of a ziploc bag with the ziploc cut off....

then roll it up as tight as possible...I use a 3/4" dowel to help keep the shape...

use a small piece of tape to hold...

then I insert the 1/4" copper pipe that has been adapted to fit my central vac hose that I have also adapted to a foot switch to activate...I put the pipe right down to the cob, squeeze the bag around the pipe at the top to create a temporary seal...pull the pipe back from the cob about 1/2" and squeeze and then start the twist...as you twist pull back more to allow room for the twisted "neck"...keep twisting until you figure it might break...I mean, tight!!... deactivate the vac and completely remove pipe but continue to twist the hell out of it... normally I would be keeping the top held tight with my right hand and twisting the bag with my left...twist to the right (righty tighty) but no helper to take pics!!

Once you have really sealed it tight, fold it over the side and secure with a longer piece of tape...(since this was just a demonstration I didn't twist real tight) Normally that neck would be about 1/8" in diameter when twisted tight...

And there ya go...add your chunk of paper with all the deets...add your elastic band....

So far this seems to work OK...You know I am super frugal and I'm not sure how much I would spend on vac bags but if I was to check these guys 4 times, that's a lot of plastic bags but with this method I only lose about 6" of masking tape, everything else is reused...
I would rather spend 10 hours building something that I could go to town and buy for 10 bucks...but then I would have to go to town!!! If I build it, I can fix it...

 

[CDNINCA]

Hey @Buzzzzd, just goes to show that the old adage "There's more than one way to skin a cat" applies here, well done!

 

[Tangwena]

Hey Cobbers.....here is a short tutorial of my sealing process.....video would be better but then you would see the mess in my shop !!!
First, tuck the cob up along the side of a ziploc bag with the ziploc cut off....
View attachment 19102578
then roll it up as tight as possible...I use a 3/4" dowel to help keep the shape...
View attachment 19102579
use a small piece of tape to hold...
View attachment 19102581
then I insert the 1/4" copper pipe that has been adapted to fit my central vac hose that I have also adapted to a foot switch to activate...I put the pipe right down to the cob, squeeze the bag around the pipe at the top to create a temporary seal...pull the pipe back from the cob about 1/2" and squeeze and then start the twist...as you twist pull back more to allow room for the twisted "neck"...keep twisting until you figure it might break...I mean, tight!!... deactivate the vac and completely remove pipe but continue to twist the hell out of it... normally I would be keeping the top held tight with my right hand and twisting the bag with my left...twist to the right (righty tighty) but no helper to take pics!!
View attachment 19102590
Once you have really sealed it tight, fold it over the side and secure with a longer piece of tape...(since this was just a demonstration I didn't twist real tight) Normally that neck would be about 1/8" in diameter when twisted tight...
View attachment 19102591
And there ya go...add your chunk of paper with all the deets...add your elastic band....
View attachment 19102592
So far this seems to work OK...You know I am super frugal and I'm not sure how much I would spend on vac bags but if I was to check these guys 4 times, that's a lot of plastic bags but with this method I only lose about 6" of masking tape, everything else is reused...
I would rather spend 10 hours building something that I could go to town and buy for 10 bucks...but then I would have to go to town!!! If I build it, I can fix it...

Just check for mold well brother thats a lot of cobs to check and reseal. I would find it too time consuming myself but if it floats your boat why not. I will be very interested to see the outcome I'm sure they will be fire looking awesome so far.

 

[Buzzzzd]

Just check for mold well

Thanx Tang - I usually err on the side of too dry...but this time I tried to go for some that seemed a bit moist as I understand that can give it a bit of a boost. They seem really dry to the touch and don't register on my Moisture Meter (but I don't have a lot of faith in it)
How long before the danger of mold is present. I sort of figured that if you made it safely a month down the road you should be free and clear....
Thoughts??

"thats a lot of cobs to check and reseal." - I totally agree - but it wasn't my fault!!!! - More plants that were supposed to turned out to be female...way above average...and well, what's a guy to do...they grew so I harvested - It wasn't my fault!!!!

 

[ost]

Thanx Tang - I usually err on the side of too dry...but this time I tried to go for some that seemed a bit moist as I understand that can give it a bit of a boost. They seem really dry to the touch and don't register on my Moisture Meter (but I don't have a lot of faith in it)
How long before the danger of mold is present. I sort of figured that if you made it safely a month down the road you should be free and clear....
Thoughts??

"thats a lot of cobs to check and reseal." - I totally agree - but it wasn't my fault!!!! - More plants that were supposed to turned out to be female...way above average...and well, what's a guy to do...they grew so I harvested - It wasn't my fault!!!!

I check on mine regular to be sure ,they are still sealed !

 

[Tangwena]

Thanx Tang - I usually err on the side of too dry...but this time I tried to go for some that seemed a bit moist as I understand that can give it a bit of a boost. They seem really dry to the touch and don't register on my Moisture Meter (but I don't have a lot of faith in it)
How long before the danger of mold is present. I sort of figured that if you made it safely a month down the road you should be free and clear....
Thoughts??

"thats a lot of cobs to check and reseal." - I totally agree - but it wasn't my fault!!!! - More plants that were supposed to turned out to be female...way above average...and well, what's a guy to do...they grew so I harvested - It wasn't my fault!!!!

If they were on the dry side you should be ok.
But check none start sweating in storage as that will bring on mold quickly.
You have the potential to create a treasure chest of time traveling trips on that gear brother.
I relive my teenage years every time I use it, its manna from heaven for us older folks ha ha.

 

[Tangwena]

I check on mine regular to be sure ,they are still sealed !

I'm extremely diligent in that regard I force myself to open and sample them all on rotation ha ha.
I've been planting seeds from the best cobs and managed to reveg a stump from my last grow it will make awesome clones.
If I'm flying high on the cobs I know for sure those seeds will nail the right spot isn't it.
Flying high on some CG/DL year plus cobs boy are they a sweet ride the tiny seed sprouts came from that cob Oh yeah.

Wet and warm here perfect for sprouting seeds and reveging plants its what passes spring in Australia ha ha.