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Need advice on flavor adjustment

LarryPer123

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Thanks in advance

When mixing flavors that may need adjustments is it better to start out high like 10% and add pg/vg Or is it best to go light like 4% and go up?

2-Will one of the two require less or more steep time?

3-I use a syringe and beakers to measure but I see some recipes call for very precise measurement like 6.5 % ..What are they use to measure so precisely?

Thanks Larry
 

Huckleberried

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Member For 5 Years
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Possibly mixing by weight, but you can get pretty precise with syringes. Many just find it a pain to fool with. I like mixing by weight.

If you're needing to adjust a flavor, I suppose it depends on where you stand with that mix already. If mixing something new, I like to start at the lower end, then work up if necessary.

Steep time is simply a matter of preference. You could take the same mix, mixed fresh, give to 3 people, and they might like it at different stages of aging.
 

LarryPer123

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Possibly mixing by weight, but you can get pretty precise with syringes. Many just find it a pain to fool with. I like mixing by weight.

If you're needing to adjust a flavor, I suppose it depends on where you stand with that mix already. If mixing something new, I like to start at the lower end, then work up if necessary.

Steep time is simply a matter of preference. You could take the same mix, mixed fresh, give to 3 people, and they might like it at different stages of aging.
Good advice..Thanks
I have never seen a recipe that was done by weight however unless people are using a conversion chart of some type
 

HondaDavidson

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Ad with wattage i always start low or at the manufacturer recommended ratio.

I study recipes in percentages and mix using the measurement drops vs ml vs grams that fits the batch size best.

30 ml or less I'll use drops.. 30 ml to 100 ml volume. Above 100ml weight. Regardless the recipe itself was writen using percentages.

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HondaDavidson

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Steep time and methods tend to vary by recipe and batch size. And not as lays in a linear fashion. Heck I have found the shape of a bottle can even affect final result......... kind like in wine making or cigars or any food on a stick.

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Heabob

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Thanks in advance

When mixing flavors that may need adjustments is it better to start out high like 10% and add pg/vg Or is it best to go light like 4% and go up?

2-Will one of the two require less or more steep time?

3-I use a syringe and beakers to measure but I see some recipes call for very precise measurement like 6.5 % ..What are they use to measure so precisely?

Thanks Larry

Takes some time and experimentation to "learn your flavors/brands", and to find your personal "tastebuds zone".
I don't usually mess with trying to "adjust", after I've finished a mix.
Which is why making smaller batches, (5-10ml), makes good sense, until you find your "sweet spot".
DIY Calculators help with conversions, from %, to ml, to grams, and drops(least accurate).
A cheapo scale, (.01 scale), really helps with measuring those smaller amounts, especially when making a 5ml test batch.
For CAP, TFA, & FW brands, 5-7% is a better starting point, with a few exceptions.
And for FA & INW brands, 2-3% is a better starting point.
If you have trouble getting any taste at those amounts, keep trying higher amounts till you get there.
Keep in mind that usually Vanillas, Creams, Marshmallow, etc., are flavor add-ons used at lower amounts normally to "assist" the main flavor/s.
 

Heabob

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Forgot to mention, you should also study the recipes in the DIY thread to see examples of how the many flavors/brands are being used.

If starting off on your own creations it's better to start with simple, 1, 2, or 3 flavor mixes.
Don't mix different fruits together at first, as they usually end up with poor results, with a few exceptions IMO.
Stay away from both Cherry, & Chocolate mixes at first, (usually same results as above, or worse)
1. Start with single Fruit flavors only, (or bakery if you go that direction).
2. Add Cream, and/or Vanilla next, (Custard, Yogurt, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, etc., can fit in this spot also, or in addition to the others)
3. Marshmallow, Meringue, Whipped Cream, Brown Sugar, Cookie, Biscuit, etc., next.
4. (Optional) Sweeteners/ Stevia, EM, AP (if you don't know what these are just skip them for now)

Or just try some of the recipes posted around here if you're having troubles.
And you can always ask, "what can I make with these flavors ?", in case you're totally stumped.
 

LarryPer123

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Forgot to mention, you should also study the recipes in the DIY thread to see examples of how the many flavors/brands are being used.

If starting off on your own creations it's better to start with simple, 1, 2, or 3 flavor mixes.
Don't mix different fruits together at first, as they usually end up with poor results, with a few exceptions IMO.
Stay away from both Cherry, & Chocolate mixes at first, (usually same results as above, or worse)
1. Start with single Fruit flavors only, (or bakery if you go that direction).
2. Add Cream, and/or Vanilla next, (Custard, Yogurt, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, etc., can fit in this spot also, or in addition to the others)
3. Marshmallow, Meringue, Whipped Cream, Brown Sugar, Cookie, Biscuit, etc., next.
4. (Optional) Sweeteners/ Stevia, EM, AP (if you don't know what these are just skip them for now)

Or just try some of the recipes posted around here if you're having troubles.
And you can always ask, "what can I make with these flavors ?", in case you're totally stumped.
Thanks Heabob
 

Elites

Silver Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Forgot to mention, you should also study the recipes in the DIY thread to see examples of how the many flavors/brands are being used.

If starting off on your own creations it's better to start with simple, 1, 2, or 3 flavor mixes.
Don't mix different fruits together at first, as they usually end up with poor results, with a few exceptions IMO.
Stay away from both Cherry, & Chocolate mixes at first, (usually same results as above, or worse)
1. Start with single Fruit flavors only, (or bakery if you go that direction).
2. Add Cream, and/or Vanilla next, (Custard, Yogurt, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, etc., can fit in this spot also, or in addition to the others)
3. Marshmallow, Meringue, Whipped Cream, Brown Sugar, Cookie, Biscuit, etc., next.
4. (Optional) Sweeteners/ Stevia, EM, AP (if you don't know what these are just skip them for now)

Or just try some of the recipes posted around here if you're having troubles.
And you can always ask, "what can I make with these flavors ?", in case you're totally stumped.
@Heabob you are great help for all. Thank you
 

lirruping

Gold Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I have had good results using drops as measurement, since I generally only make 15-30ml batches.

I usually use the following method -

in a 30ml base, 1 drop = .10% (10 drops = 1%)
in a 15ml base, 1 drop = .20% ( 5 drops = 1%)
in a 12ml base, 1 drop = .25% ( 4 drops = 1%)
in a 9ml base, 1 drop = .33% (3 drops =1%)
in a 6ml base, 1 drop = .5% ( 2 drops = 1%)
in a 3ml base, 1 drop = 1%.
in 1ml base, 1 drop = .33%
 

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