Ill PM you so we dont completely derail thread
6 Likes
Thank you, don’t see an envelope saying I have mail at the moment, but will look tomorrow.
6 Likes
Can you please just start a new thread as this is an interesting subject that others may wish to see and/or chime in on… 
8 Likes
When I first started mixing, I tried to use CAP SS to make my juice sweeter. The problem is I have issues with artificial sweeteners in foods, and in some concentrates so SS was not friendly towards me. I don’t generally use any sweetener at all now, my tastes have adapted to the inherent sweetness in the profiles I mix. I am interested in what others use and how they use them though as I am open to revisiting using them since I do have a sweet tooth at times…
7 Likes
@KC111, @fidalgo_vapes great idea/post.
I think asking people what sweetener, and/or why will yield MANY different results, as everyone’s tastes are different, as well as tollerence/desire for different sweetness levels.
Although Fiddy mentioned EM in a fairly negative light, because of the very real MUTING effect it can have, I use it, and TPA’s Sweetener regularly with no ill effects.
SUC, i.e. Sucralose is a great sweetener, and it CAN yield the “Sugar Lips” effect if used high enough, and it almost always sweetens the ENTIRE MIX. It just encases everything in the sweet. BUT, can, and will gunk the hell out of your coils.
EM on the other hand, if used correctly can sweeten SOME aspects of a juice, almost like more of a targeted approach, and doesn’t really give the “Sugar Lips” effect. TPA’s Sweetener is a 50/50 mix of suc and em. I’ve had some fruits that just seem to work better with a EM/Suc mix. Again, if used CORRECTLY. Like fiddy mentioned, some flavors already have EM built in, like TPA’s Strawberry Ripe. Because TPA chose to use EM, basically is because it works well, most notably WITH fruits. Muting AND gunking can and will occur as your use increases.
Stevia can also be a REAL boost for fruits, and when using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar), things can get even more exciting …
Sugar Daddy uses a completely (kind of) different approach, and claims to (and does) have FAR LESS gunking then SUC.
I’ve had great luck with SUC as a general sweetener, bakeries, cereals, custards. EM or a SUC/EM mix for fruits. Stevia with ACV can work VERY good boosting fruits. Sugar Daddy for a kind of All In One Sweetener with less gunking, etc.
8 Likes
5 Likes
From …
Sucralose:
UPDATED: 5/13/20
Sucralose (aka TFA/FW Sweetener, CAP Super Sweet, Sucralose 5 or 10%) is the most popular “enhancer” used by mixers. It’s the reason the juices on the shelves have that extremely sweet, sugary, feeling. That “sugar lips” feeling you get form some commercial juices, where it’s so sweet that when you lick your lips you can taste the sugar, that’s from a high amount of Sucralose. So if you’re after that commercial flavor, then you’re going to want to pick up some sucralose. The difference kind of sucraloses out there make things a bit confusing. TFA Sweetener is sucralose at 5% with Maltol at 5%. One ingredient in TFA Sweetener you may find detrimental is the amount of water content. Cap Super Sweet is sucralose at a 10% solution, that also contains preservatives and acids like Citric Acid. It’s the industry standard, and used in many, many commercially available e-liquids on the shelves. Flavor West Sweetener, according to their safety sheets, seem to suggest Sucralose at 30-40% of its weight. Much, much higher than the others, but without any other preservatives (and possibly 20% water content). And if you purchase plain sucralose that’s already diluted, then it’s usually at a 5-10%. In this video I talk about the best way to use sucralose and ways to not use sucralose so make sure to watch it to learn more.
Ethyl Maltol:
UPDATE: I edited this article to reflect my thoughts on this compound, after more insight, and much more time using it.
Ethyl Maltol (aka EM, or Cotton Candy) is another extremely popular enhancer. This is often viewed as a sweetener, but that would not be correct. Ethyl Maltol, or EM, is actually just a cotton candy flavored aroma. Because this is an aroma, it doesn’t work on the sweetness receptors of tongue, and therefore not a sweetener. So don’t use it like a sweetener! Now, that’s not to say the flavoring isn’t “sweet”. It’s just that the sweetness comes from within, meaning it inherently sweetens aromas. If you think of Sucralose as dumping plain white sugar into something, then EM is using sweeter ingredients. It’s a great way to make certain flavors within a recipe SEEM to taste a bit sweeter, turning them into a more candy like aroma, as opposed to a fruit like aroma. Best used with non-citrus flavors like Strawberry, Blueberry, Mango. Ethyl Maltol can be purchased in a 10% solution, or as a Cotton Candy flavoring (like TFA/FW Cotton Candy ), or in a powder form where you can dilute them yourself. Just remember if you do, to do so in a 10% solution. One profile it works really well in is vanilla. Custards, creams, and bright vanillas benefit greatly from a bit of EM. Just don’t go overboard, and you’ll find your custards sweeter, without any distraction or astringency. If you need a sweetener that is very subtle and doesn’t actually affect your palate in any way, then this could be for you.
Erythritol:
This is a newer sweetener that just hit the market. It’s a sweetener made from sugar-alcohols that works in the same way as Sucralose. But what makes this ingredient so excellent is that it extremely heat stable meaning it can last at much higher temps than Sucralose. This means that it won’t completely ruin your coils as fast as Sucralose does because sucralose has mass losses at a much lower temp, temps that we exceed when we vape. So this makes Erythritol a super effective sweetener for those who use tanks, or don’t change wicks often. This can be found at nudenicotine.com or ecigexpress.com and will be sold in a 5% solution. Use exactly as you would sucralose.
9 Likes
@KC111 also take note that layering can also lead to some great results. I’m still in the middle of my Duomei tests, and for a few of the flavors, they felt like they just needed to POP a little more, and I experimented, and put a drop or two of TPA Sweetener (5% EM/ 5% SUC), and sure enough. POP. As others will clearly mention, you can’t fix a bad juice with sweeteners (although commercial brands try and do this), but you should only use it/them to ENHANCE an already good juice, and/or add some “Pop and Sizzle”.
6 Likes
No no no…Using Wayne as a source is no bueno…As of today Cap Super Sweet is the only good sweetener and 6 months ago it was FW Sweetener and Cap SS lol…I have to give Wayne shit
10 Likes
LOL, what’s OLD becomes NEW again @fidalgo_vapes. I love how the wheel is continuously Re-invented.
9 Likes
When there is money involved everything gets reinvented. That’s the synic in me.
It is an over saturated market. Munk fruit to Pyure.
9 Likes
I’ve used TPA and CAP in the past and didn’t care for either one. Super Sweet especially has chemical off-notes that I don’t like. They use crystal sucralose, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate…so there’s that psychological thing for me about inhaling preservatives.
I try to refrain from using sweeteners overall but when I do my choice is Flavorah. It just tastes cleaner to me and won’t gunk coils like others will.
10 Likes
Thank you for your detailed notes and answering my million plus 1 questions. I will look more thoroughly when I don’t have a pounding headache. Thank you SD and everyone else that puts up with this inquisitive ‘question box’, that was my nickname from my dad when I was growing up.
8 Likes
I think a handful of us Older Members stick around in hopes that we continue to get new memebers who we can help. So keep asking…
10 Likes
I dont like sweeteners either . I do find FW and Purilium SS dont have as much of that after taste others have. I started using Sweeteners after losing me taste from Covid . My taster has never veen the same . OH flv sweetness is descent as well .
9 Likes
Appreciate that, I just worry sometimes about posting in the wrong places so I don’t “derail” the thread. Chalk it up to newbie fears, lol.
8 Likes
Derailing is always going to happen…
7 Likes
I gave hubby some alpha lipoic acid, which you get get at Whole Foods or Health Food stores to help him conquer the “Covid tongue”. It helped him after a few days, but he still has trouble eating steaks, bacon, pepperoni and roasted peppers, items he used to love.
9 Likes
What does ACV or vinegar or saline do to a recipe and why? How do you know when to add it or not?
6 Likes