Is It Necessary to Steep Commercial Vape Juice?
In case anyone reading this isn’t that familiar with steeping, here’s quick breakdown: First off, the word “steeping” is an imperfect one to describe the process. As technically, steeping is soaking something like tea, coffee grinds, or spice in (generally hot) liquid to extract flavor from it—and that’s not how vape juice is steeped. The process of steeping vape juice is more like “aging” or “mellowing.” It also often involves several processes, like shaking, breathing, and “streathing,” collectively referred to as steeping. It is a process, or series of them, intended to improve the flavor of the vape juice.
Why Steep?
As mentioned, the majority opinion among vapers is that steeping improves flavor. It not only brings flavors out more vividly, but it also seems to have a mixing and mellowing effect. This makes it so the flavor is more evenly distributed through the VG (vegetable glycerin) or PG (propylene glycol) base. This improvement is accomplished by oxidation and because it’s allowing for the evaporation of alcohol and a marked reduction of a chemical taste. Your vape juice turning a brownish color is oxidation taking place, and it’s a good thing, say many vapers. Often, the longer it steeps, the browner it gets.
How to Steep
There are almost as many ways to steep as there are vapers. The simplest way to steep is to remove any labels or wrappers from your vape juice; put it in a cool, dark place; and then just let it sit for two to three weeks, depending on the flavor. Fruit flavors seem require the least steeping time, from no time at all to a couple days. Virtually any other flavor, like tobacco, dessert flavors, or fruit vape flavors with cream, are encouraged to steep for weeks. Shake them every day and occasionally “breathe” them by removing the lid to get air flow and speed oxidation. For faster steeping methods and simultaneous breathing and steeping (streathing), there are some good guides online.
Commercial vs. Homemade
Some of you may be asking, “If steeping improves the flavor, why would it matter if it’s commercial or homemade?” Excellent hypothetical question. The short answer is, it doesn’t matter if it’s commercial or homemade—both of them should be steeped. However, commercial vape juice was produced by the manufacturer and was likely stored either on-site or in a warehouse until it was ordered. It was then shipped in a dark box, being jostled and shaken by the moving process. And if you bought it from a vape store in person rather than ordering it directly off the internet, it was sitting in the store for however long. So there’s a good chance the juice already has been steeping. With homemade vape juice, of course, that’s not the case.
To Steep, Or Not to Steep?
All of which leaves the question: Should you steep your commercial vape juice? That comes down to a couple of factors—your preference and whether or not the commercial vape juice has actually been steeped. To answer the latter, the brownish tint of oxidation is a good indicator. If your commercial vape juice is crystal clear, give it some steeping time.
Regarding preference, some vapers insist they notice no difference between fresh e cig juice and steeped bottles. Others swear by it. Your best bet is to pick up a few bottles in advance, let them steep for a couple weeks, give them a shot, and see what you think.
About Mt Baker Vapor
Since being founded in 2011, Mt Baker Vapor has served up the tastiest vape juice flavors and the highest quality vaping hardware. Their passion and commitment to the benefits of vaping and the vaper community has established them as one of the premier vaping juice, hardware, and accessory providers in the industry. Of course, their incredible customer service and amazingly fast shipping doesn’t hurt either. Along with their proprietary, delicious vape juice flavors, they’ve partnered up with some of the other top suppliers out there to provide a huge variety for their customers (and retailers), from a basic vape starter kit to advanced sub-ohm mods, often at wholesale prices.
Experience the best vape juice, accessories, vape hardware, and everything else you need for high-quality vaping with Mt Baker Vapor, at Mtbakervapor.com
Why Steep?
As mentioned, the majority opinion among vapers is that steeping improves flavor. It not only brings flavors out more vividly, but it also seems to have a mixing and mellowing effect. This makes it so the flavor is more evenly distributed through the VG (vegetable glycerin) or PG (propylene glycol) base. This improvement is accomplished by oxidation and because it’s allowing for the evaporation of alcohol and a marked reduction of a chemical taste. Your vape juice turning a brownish color is oxidation taking place, and it’s a good thing, say many vapers. Often, the longer it steeps, the browner it gets.
How to Steep
There are almost as many ways to steep as there are vapers. The simplest way to steep is to remove any labels or wrappers from your vape juice; put it in a cool, dark place; and then just let it sit for two to three weeks, depending on the flavor. Fruit flavors seem require the least steeping time, from no time at all to a couple days. Virtually any other flavor, like tobacco, dessert flavors, or fruit vape flavors with cream, are encouraged to steep for weeks. Shake them every day and occasionally “breathe” them by removing the lid to get air flow and speed oxidation. For faster steeping methods and simultaneous breathing and steeping (streathing), there are some good guides online.
Commercial vs. Homemade
Some of you may be asking, “If steeping improves the flavor, why would it matter if it’s commercial or homemade?” Excellent hypothetical question. The short answer is, it doesn’t matter if it’s commercial or homemade—both of them should be steeped. However, commercial vape juice was produced by the manufacturer and was likely stored either on-site or in a warehouse until it was ordered. It was then shipped in a dark box, being jostled and shaken by the moving process. And if you bought it from a vape store in person rather than ordering it directly off the internet, it was sitting in the store for however long. So there’s a good chance the juice already has been steeping. With homemade vape juice, of course, that’s not the case.
To Steep, Or Not to Steep?
All of which leaves the question: Should you steep your commercial vape juice? That comes down to a couple of factors—your preference and whether or not the commercial vape juice has actually been steeped. To answer the latter, the brownish tint of oxidation is a good indicator. If your commercial vape juice is crystal clear, give it some steeping time.
Regarding preference, some vapers insist they notice no difference between fresh e cig juice and steeped bottles. Others swear by it. Your best bet is to pick up a few bottles in advance, let them steep for a couple weeks, give them a shot, and see what you think.
About Mt Baker Vapor
Since being founded in 2011, Mt Baker Vapor has served up the tastiest vape juice flavors and the highest quality vaping hardware. Their passion and commitment to the benefits of vaping and the vaper community has established them as one of the premier vaping juice, hardware, and accessory providers in the industry. Of course, their incredible customer service and amazingly fast shipping doesn’t hurt either. Along with their proprietary, delicious vape juice flavors, they’ve partnered up with some of the other top suppliers out there to provide a huge variety for their customers (and retailers), from a basic vape starter kit to advanced sub-ohm mods, often at wholesale prices.
Experience the best vape juice, accessories, vape hardware, and everything else you need for high-quality vaping with Mt Baker Vapor, at Mtbakervapor.com
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