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Malawi Style Cob Curing.

Scottay

Well-known member
420club
An update on my hash efforts while I wait for my cobs to mature another month. 😁

I'm finding all sorts of similarities between cobbing and the process most are calling piattella hash. I hope the group finds this interesting.

They're using material to make the piattella that's been micron graded like just 90u or just 73u.
I'm instead using material that's full spec 159-45u or 120-45u because that's what I've been using for making for templeball.
But I'm still seeing benefits so we're playing along to learn.

I like the hands off, minimum interference both systems offer.
A lot less time, effort and handling of the material. Important to an aging one man operation.
Both use a combination of mild pressure, an anaerobic environment and time to bring about marvelous changes.

Both can use varying amounts of low temp heat if desired to increase the speed of the "cure".
The time it takes to get a desired change in the material before putting away to age and store.
And I can use all the tools I'm already using for cobbing. My vacuum sealer, instant pot and wine cooler. 💪

This is what I started with. 159-45u full spec bubble 🫧
View attachment 19139003
My ultra instant pot won't go below 104°
There are new pro models that you can set for long periods at 77° for doing inoculated rice and stuff that you need to be careful with. 🤔
If I was buying - that's the model I would look at.

It didn't take long for me to realize I couldn't turn mine on and off for 3 weeks to keep it around 88° so I opted for 105°
and ran it for 10 hours.
First thing I noticed was there had been enough "action" inside that the vacuum packet was puffed up a little like a pillow. 😃
I like seeing that because I knew at least something was happening.
View attachment 19139004 When I took it out I knew it wasn't complete yet. I could still feel the grainy feel that the unmelted - uncrushed trichromes present View attachment 19139006 Looks pretty cool though. Just not seeing the leaking oil yet that means I'm there yet. View attachment 19139008 But dang! I like the looks and smell of that!! 💕 Terp city!
I love the grain/ intact heads feel to it.
The ease of handling preparing it to smoke. Vaped some in my dynavap and I'm very happy.
I decided to vacuum bag this one and run it another 10 hrs at 105° and then I'll check it again.
Very encouraging though.
View attachment 19139011
This one was a little patty of last seasons Mimosa. Always kept in a Grove bag but never cobbed.
I decided to wash it. I'm finding around 18 months is where my flower quality will start to fall off.

Cobbing and hash for me are attempts besides variety to store excess when good seasons provide it.
Smaller amounts at the same heat and times means this one "cured" more.
You can see a little oil leaked.
View attachment 19139013
Its good. I like it.
A little muted/tired on the terps.
For that reason I decided no more instant pot heat on this one.
I put it in this jar on the fireplace mantle where it will cycle between 65 and 75° for 3 weeks.
Supposedly the gentler heat and longer time will still support a change but with added benefits of smell, taste, texture and maybe even effect.
View attachment 19139016
I have another small package of 120-45u that started coming together at room temp when vacuum sealed in here for the 3-week treatment.

I'm happy with the results and having the material to experiment with.
I've decided to make up a package and vacuum it but put it right into the wine cooler with no heat to jumpstart the cure. 6 - months to a year they say. ⏳🧐
View attachment 19139017
That's my update.
3 different experiments.
1: A heat jump start at 105° for 24hrs
2: A package of 120-45u in the mantle for 21 days at 65-75°
3: One with no heat at all just vacuum sealed and into the wine cooler for 6-12 months cycling between 37 - 50°.

Interesting to see the intersection where my flower in Grove bags, Cobbing and my hash making efforts are all coming together.

It's slowly turning into a system where I will pluck a few A buds from each plant for flower.
Hang dry the rest of the plant for around 4 days and then cob some.

The 4 day hang also makes the resin easier to handle they say compared to fresh frozen when making hash and has the added benefits of increased yields and better terps than fully air cured.
So after cobbing all the rest gets bucked down and washed and I'm all done!

If this all works out this would really simplify and streamline the harvest/post harvest methods I'm using that currently drag on for 4 months. 🫤
Man that hash should be absolutely killer!!! Happy Saturday to you!! 😎✌️
 

moose/MI

Well-known member
Is it normal for moisture to increase by a small amount
Yes, but it's more the limitations of the instrument were using. 😉
You'll get a range of numbers depending on how you insert the probes and how hard you push. (Yours look good)
It wasn't ever intended to be used like we're using it.

But it is information.
And we can learn to use that information to make decisions.
As you stab them more you'll settle more into a routine and you get more consistent results.

1% doesn't concern me all that much.
Think of it in more wide swaths of 5-10% that tell me things are happening.
That's that's how I'm working it currently.
 

sickzone

Active member
It wasn't ever intended to be used like we're using it.

But it is information.

Agreed

After smoking some of the 13.2% cob it was pretty damn good 8 days post dry.Grinded nicely and better than the buds I put in Grove bags that are at 62% .
Has me thinking 11- 12% on the moisture meter will be perfect for long cure.

Actually everything is better after only 8 days.
 

ost

Well-known member
I look forward to your results.
Right now I have 1 plant hanging waiting to dry for my first fresh cobs and another due in around 10 days.
Itching to get this started.
this is dry a bit press as you vac and keep a eye for leaks in vac bags open to air it out for reseal and wait some more ,i had 1 last year , hung for two days i dropped it in the floorboard beside the shifter and forgot it for about a week when i got back to it it was time to open and check took near 24 hrs to air it out dry enough , to to reseal and let cure more,open check moisture, reseal and wait again have to be aged (it is @5 months now), not aged enough for me to sample!
 

ost

Well-known member
Looking good my friend they will need a longer fermentation as they are a little dry IMO.
Just open and check weekly for a month at least before sealing and aging for at least 6 months 9 is better.
You should get a nice result from the pics colors look on point for this early in the process.
this makes me feel better about mine just got moisture meter now time to learn more ,for this oldfart.
 

ost

Well-known member

Carraxe

Well-known member
Veteran
Hi. I've been pressing and fermenting weed for years. I don't know exactly how fermentation time affects the final product and I usually take it out to dry once it is totally black, around a week after pressing.

A question for experienced people. Have you noted any difference giving it more fermentation time, after the weed is already black? I mean, better grinding, better smoking, whatever? Like fermenting it two weeks, a month...

If there isn't any tangible change after one week, I'll keep giving it that fermenting time.

I wanted to search this thread looking for my experiences years ago, but the search engine doesn't find anything from me. Maybe it is such a long thread it doesn't work

Thanks
 

Prs2xs

Well-known member
Hi. I've been pressing and fermenting weed for years. I don't know exactly how fermentation time affects the final product and I usually take it out to dry once it is totally black, around a week after pressing.

A question for experienced people. Have you noted any difference giving it more fermentation time, after the weed is already black? I mean, better grinding, better smoking, whatever? Like fermenting it two weeks, a month...

If there isn't any tangible change after one week, I'll keep giving it that fermenting time.

I wanted to search this thread looking for my experiences years ago, but the search engine doesn't find anything from me. Maybe it is such a long thread it doesn't work

Thanks
I personally never let it get to black - usually 12 to 24hrs is all I will give it, then dry and seal it. After a few months it will be darker, but not black, but it does make the smoke a lot easier on the lungs!
 

moose/MI

Well-known member
Hi. I've been pressing and fermenting weed for years. I don't know exactly how fermentation time affects the final product and I usually take it out to dry once it is totally black, around a week after pressing.

A question for experienced people. Have you noted any difference giving it more fermentation time, after the weed is already black? I mean, better grinding, better smoking, whatever? Like fermenting it two weeks, a month...

If there isn't any tangible change after one week, I'll keep giving it that fermenting time.

I wanted to search this thread looking for my experiences years ago, but the search engine doesn't find anything from me. Maybe it is such a long thread it doesn't work

Thanks
Oh, we have so much to talk about. 😃
It's funny I just found a couple of your threads this morning and have spent the last couple hours researching more info on Cannabiogen, the work you do, sativa's etc.

To your question...
Searching should work. 🤔
You can make going back more manageable by jumping in around page 345 - forward.
That's about where new ideas started getting applied. Thoughts/ preferences changed, etc.

I don't have a definite answer.
The consensus from my reading is most are not sure.
It's a work in progress and we're all comparing.
There are suggestions and pictures posted showing the color changes etc.
Along with the results.

I have been doing some reading about the more serious tobacco pipe smokers.
They do a lot of aging, casing, pressing of their tobacco.
Thinking that some of their experience could be applied to us.
 

Taima-da

Well-known member
If it is dark colour I usually try to stop fermentation, but it continues slowly anyway.
Currently my fav is a black cob from '21 but it is not everyday use.
It went for too long after initial colour change, it is hard to see any plant material at all in the mass, just a black lump of... stuff... Smells of malt and chocolate. Judging by reactions to a tiny little joint I rolled for friends, it still works very well when smoked. One person commented that it didn't feel like smoking at all and they were surprised when exhaling that smoke was even being exhaled.

I like longer ferment of lighter colour, by starting drier, as well.
 

ost

Well-known member
If it is dark colour I usually try to stop fermentation, but it continues slowly anyway.
Currently my fav is a black cob from '21 but it is not everyday use.
It went for too long after initial colour change, it is hard to see any plant material at all in the mass, just a black lump of... stuff... Smells of malt and chocolate. Judging by reactions to a tiny little joint I rolled for friends, it still works very well when smoked. One person commented that it didn't feel like smoking at all and they were surprised when exhaling that smoke was even being exhaled.

I like longer ferment of light, have a couple that are near black but not quite things are good best as i can tell,a lot easier to smoke , real smooth,alot better buzz than raw bud ,i love it
 
Last edited:

ost

Well-known member
Oh, we have so much to talk about. 😃
It's funny I just found a couple of your threads this morning and have spent the last couple hours researching more info on Cannabiogen, the work you do, sativa's etc.

To your question...
Searching should work. 🤔
You can make going back more manageable by jumping in around page 345 - forward.
That's about where new ideas started getting applied. Thoughts/ preferences changed, etc.

I don't have a definite answer.
The consensus from my reading is most are not sure.
It's a work in progress and we're all comparing.
There are suggestions and pictures posted showing the color changes etc.
Along with the results.

I have been doing some reading about the more serious tobacco pipe smokers.
They do a lot of aging, casing, pressing of their tobacco.
Thinking that some of their experience could be applied to us.
most likely it would help
 

ost

Well-known member
Hi. I've been pressing and fermenting weed for years. I don't know exactly how fermentation time affects the final product and I usually take it out to dry once it is totally black, around a week after pressing.

A question for experienced people. Have you noted any difference giving it more fermentation time, after the weed is already black? I mean, better grinding, better smoking, whatever? Like fermenting it two weeks, a month...

If there isn't any tangible change after one week, I'll keep giving it that fermenting time.

I wanted to search this thread looking for my experiences years ago, but the search engine doesn't find anything from me. Maybe it is such a long thread it doesn't work

Thanks
several years worth of info .
 

moose/MI

Well-known member
Ok, 3 month mark on Cob #9
Whoo wee! we're starting to see some action!
It was a beautiful plant back in 2023.
Mimosa Evo from Barney's farm.
Girlfriend liked the flavor in a pen so we grew some.
Sungrown - Organic - 42.2N
43ac4fd8-fa11-4f33-9c48-27c697c8d494-1_all_28856.jpg
I already had my stash, I had already made hash and I still had a bit left over in a Grove bag
43ac4fd8-fa11-4f33-9c48-27c697c8d494-1_all_22843.jpg
Thing about grove bags is they need to be 3/4 full to work properly. I had gotten complacent and not moved it to a smaller bag so it was starting to dry out.
About 54% on a cheap hygrometer.
1000003450.jpg
Great looking bud! Nice smell and flavor if a little on the mild side.
Same with the buzz. It was nice.
But milder than other modern polyhybrids I had going.
So I tried a traditional cob from what I had left.
At the 2 month mark I abandoned the corn husk
1000024040.jpg

That brings us up to this morning and 3 months.
It still has give when you squeeze it. I can tell it is still moist. It doesn't feel dry.
1000025827.jpg
Wonderful colors. Amost no terps. 🙄
A faint pickle smell when you first open it left from the sulfer dioxide they treat the corn husks with.
1000025829.jpg
I'm simply amazed at how much moisture it still retains considering how dry it was to start.
1000025836.jpg
1000025833.jpg
1000025842.jpg
I snipped off the very end to try.
Took two smooth, flavorless hits in my dynavap and was shortly higher than i expected to be. 😃
A couple of hours of zooming around in my head while I had my coffee, watched some news and planned my spring garden.
I can tell that something has happened. But I was slowly starting to come down 🥴👍
So I took one more good puff for Science. And I was right back to where I was. 😝
1000025854.jpg

I enjoyed the effects but decided not to finish the rest.
It rained like heck yesterday and then snowed. It's nice today and I need to get outside and accomplish something.
3 puffs was plenty.
It's nice to experience some success with the cobbing. There have been positive changes to the effects.
It's interesting/exciting to see that it worked on the older herb that had been maintained in Grove bags.

Looking for advice on whether to vacuum it back up for another month?
Or is this the time to let it dry out a little bit and get ready for storage?
Thoughts?
 

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