Mastering Flavour: The Art And Science Of Steeping E-Liquids

Flavour is a key component of the vaping process, adding to the overall experience. That is why many vapers who make their own vape juice choose to steep their e-liquid mixtures. If you enjoy mixing your own e-liquids and are looking for ways to enhance your flavours, keep reading our ultimate steeping guide to learn everything you need to know about steeping e-liquids.

What Is Steeping?

Steeping is a method that is used to improve your e-liquid flavour by letting it mature. When you steep your e-liquid, it allows the PG (propylene glycol), VG (vegetable glycerine), and flavour concentrates settle into an uniform mixture. Think of it like ageing wine to improve the flavour. 

When you steep your e-liquid, it evaporates, chemically breaks down, and infuses the PG, VG, flavourings, and nicotine to enhance the taste. You will notice that your liquids have less off-notes, chemical hints, and harsh tones, with more balanced flavours.

The different components within e-liquids have varying levels of density and viscosity. VG is thicker than PG, so it can easily sink to the bottom of your bottle. This is why it is important to shake your e-liquid well after mixing. Steeping is a necessary step to ensure that all of the ingredients homogenise and mix completely.

How Long Should I Let My E-Liquids Steep?

There is no specific time that you should steep your e-liquids for, and it also depends on which steeping method you choose. The general guideline is to steep your e-liquids for around two weeks as this is enough time to drastically enhance the flavour. How long you should allow your e-liquid to steep depends on the following factors: 

• The flavour: Dessert and creamy flavours usually take longest to steep as they have denser components. Tobacco, teas, and spices fall in between, while fruity flavours steep fairly quickly. However, the best way to know how long you should let your flavour steep is to periodically taste your e-liquid while you are steeping it until you are satisfied with the taste.

• The amount of concentrates: If there are more concentrates in your flavour, it will take a lot longer to steep because there are more flavours that need to homogenise. 

• The PG, VG, and nicotine ratio: VG takes longer to steep due to its high viscosity. If you are adding nicotine to your e-liquid, it will take even longer to steep.

• The method of steeping used: Each method of steeping has its own benefits and drawbacks, with some being faster than others. The only surefire way to tell if your e-liquid is ready to vape is by tracking the taste by testing it periodically. For some vapers, it can take as little as one week to taste perfect, while other vapers wait for months.

Why Does The Colour And Taste Of E-Liquids Change When You Steep Them?

There are four main reasons why the colour and taste of your e-liquid will change when you steep it: degasification, evaporation, flavour homogenisation, and the maillard reaction. Degasification and evaporation can only occur with the lid off, while homogenisation and the Maillard reaction can occur with the lid on or off.

Degasification

Degasification also occurs in the production of wine, during which carbon dioxide is released as an undesired byproduct. E-liquids can gather similar byproducts that can be released when you leave the lid off when steeping.

Evaporation

When you steep your e-liquid with the lid off, you are exposing it to the atmosphere. This removes volatile components that are used in the production of flavour concentrates that have chemical odours. However, if you leave the lid off for 24 hours or longer, the nicotine will start to evaporate and degrade, so it is best to monitor how long you let your e-liquid breathe.

Flavour Homogenisation

All of the components in e-liquid have different levels of thickness, so the process of allowing your flavour components to blend together (flavour homogenisation) takes some time to occur. When you first taste your e-liquid, you may notice that certain flavours are harsh and dominant. Once flavour homogenisation occurs, the harsh notes will smooth out and you will have a much smoother flavour.

The Maillard Reaction

The change of taste and colour over a long period is caused by chemical reactions between reducing sugars and amino acids. This is the Maillard reaction, which is also a form of non-enzymatic browning. The severity of colour changes will depend on the concentrates and amount of nicotine in your e-liquid. This reaction is accelerated by heat, which is why it takes some time to notice any changes in your e-liquid.

Which Flavours Should I Steep?

There are so many flavours on the market, making it difficult to determine which should be steeped and how long they should be steeped for. However, there are some general signs that should tell you whether or not your e-liquid needs to be steeped. 

If your e-liquid has a harsh taste or tastes like chemicals, you will need to steep it for a while. If you like the flavour of your liquid and do not notice any off-notes, you can vape away. Essentially, whenever you notice an overpowering flavour that you do not like, it is a good idea to try steeping your e-liquid. 

The colour of your e-liquid is another good way to tell whether or not it needs steeping. This is especially true if your liquid contains nicotine. A clear e-liquid that contains nicotine will benefit from steeping. The nicotine will turn your e-liquid to a more yellow/brown colour over time when it is ready.

Which Methods Can I Use To Steep My E-Liquids?

Steeping your e-liquids is important for experiencing the optimal flavour profile. Although the process takes some time, it is worth it to enjoy the full flavour of your favourite e-liquid mixtures. There are three different methods you can use to steep your e-liquids, including: 

• Resting
• Breathing 
• Water bath

Resting

During the resting method, you can keep your e-liquid in a cool, dark place and shake it occasionally. This method takes the longest, but it is also the easiest as it takes the least effort. The longer you let it rest, the better your e-liquid will taste. You should taste your e-liquid periodically to determine the taste.

Breathing

Breathing is similar to resting, but you will need to remove the lid of the container to allow any extra molecules of flavour to escape. However, breathing has the tendency to oxidise the nicotine and mute the flavours if you do it for a long period of time. It is recommended to let your flavour breathe only for 12 hours at a time. Be sure to let your liquid steep with the lid on for at least 72 hours in between these periods.

Water Bath

A water bath involves placing your e-liquid into a container filled with warm water. As heat speeds up the Maillard reaction, the hot water will speed up the steeping process. However, if the temperatures are too high, the nicotine and flavourings can start to degrade. The recommended temperature for a water bath is around 10°C to 21°C. You can keep your e-liquid in the water bath for up to four hours, so you will need to make sure that you keep replacing the water to keep steeping your e-liquid.

Steeping is an essential part of getting the most flavour from your vaping experience. Breathing is better for beginners, while water bathing is the quickest method. However, it all depends on the results you are looking for. Remember to taste test your e-liquids while they are steeping to see whether or not they are ready to vape. If you have not tried steeping your e-liquids yet, it is a worthwhile process to attempt if you are looking to get the best flavour from your favourite e-liquids.