I will go out on a limb and question if the INW products are actual TA, or of they are base TA with additives to give slightly different profiles.
I say this becausue it is my understanding that the dominant world wide source of TA which is a highly consistent (single) flavor profile comes from one factory in Bulgaria that is
http://galen-n.com/tobacco-concrete/
other distributers and reseller of their product are in lists like this:
If someone has a contact talking person at INW it might be a nice idea to inquire with them about exactly what they are really re-packaging and selling as TA.
I think that only two actual feed stock that are in productuon at this time for real TA: is N. rustica which is no longer cultivated in its native North America, and N. tabacum which has replaced it commercially.
I am more than a little suspicious that all this so-called TA floating around the vape DIY Vape Web e-commerce sites is just one of the two available TAs that has been adulterated with other flavorings and then re-sold as as things like “Cuban Cigar TA”… It brings a smile to my face, and a chuckle, I doubt that the most expensive cigar crop in the world (Cuba) is shipped to Bulgaria then is being boiled down by GALEN Ltd. in the quantities necessary to produce TA. I think this is just marketing nonsense,
You know me, I am that ‘words have meaning’ guy. If you call it TA then it needs to be TA. If it is something else then you need to say what it is, Or if it is GALEN TA with some artificial Cuban flavoring added then you need to say that.
Anyway, for me, at this time, my journey with NETs had taken me to exactly the other side of the possible approaches. What I mean by that is that TA is on one side of the scale, as the most highly processed and concentrated tobacco product available, then you have a sliding scale from there ranging into NET obtained via solvent extraction from fermented blending tobacco, i.e. Pipe Shop Blend, RYO Blends, etc. The scale then moves on to Pure Leaf, which is fermented, but unblended not ‘topped’ or adulterated. Those are pure examples of the hundreds of tobacco species grown around the world. This where I am at with it now. I have put up jars with samples from sources like leafs-only(dot)com
TA is just something I am not currently involved with…
That is not to say it is not worthy of experimentation. - As long as I am on the subject of my personal thoughts about TA, I will say that when I have noticed it used in commercial NET lines it gives the product line a uniform flavor identity, which is something that serious commercial marketers of a product line very much wants. It builds a loyal customer base for the uniform product line, This is a valid business plan, and is a very typical way of approaching building food flavoring, perfume, and vaping lines. Customers like to feel “confidant” that they will not be surprised with ‘one that is very different’ within a product line that they expect to be very consistent, and has a readily and similiar flavor sytle across the entire line. Commercial operators like Black Note, Want2Vape etc are using this technique.
At this time in my journey it is just not for me. I have experimented with it, and got exactly the “instant product line” result noted in the above paragraph. At random I picked a few out of my fridge, dropped in 1/2 ml of Nicotiana Rustica Absolute and BAM! I turned 1/2 dozen of my various distinct samples into a “product line”… That’s OK, just not what I am looking for in my hobby at this time.
Anyway: usual disclaimer applies: “TIS” - You mileage may vary.
…so @ChemicalBurnVictim don’t let me dissuade you from what sounds like a wonderful series of tests. I am all ears for your report on how it goes. I would just ask you to inquire with the supplier of your samples of TA, “exactly what is this stuff, who made it, what’s in it,… etc” of course, the food industry being “trade secret” and “marketing oriented”, you might never get a response from your inquiries, but it would be worth a try anyway.
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