Sour Strawberry Candy (Bazooka Juice clone)

[AshBFrontin]

Hi all!

I am brand new to the DIY Vape world, and tried my first attempt at the above flavour last night.... And no matter what I used I could not get the Strawberry to "pop" and be Rich and Bright like the premium juice of the same name. And not only this, but it lacks any sort of sweetness, and after adding 7% EM it was no better!

I used flavors from DripHacks though, which don't say if they're CAP / TFA etc so I wonder if thats where i've gone wrong.

I used Strawberry (15%), "Ultra Sweet" (0.5%), EM (7% or something), Sour (1-2%).

It was as if the Strawberry was barely there, even before raising the EM up slowly to 7% or something... It was my first batch, but i'm less than hopeful at my abilities now.

You'll be pleased to know I have ordered some Decent CAP and TFA flavours now such as SR, SS etc etc as well as SUCRALOSE as i'm told it is extremely good for sweetening up whole mixes, as opposed to brightening fruits individually etc

ANY pointers at all on how I can sort this out would be appreciated.

 

[Ethendinythor]

Just starting with fruit flavours but I have been combining Sweet Strawberry and Strawberry Ripe (both TFA) which gives you the fresh and candy elements. I have heard that adding a little blackcurrant helps it pop.

 

[AshBFrontin]

Just starting with fruit flavours but I have been combining Sweet Strawberry and Strawberry Ripe (both TFA) which gives you the fresh and candy elements. I have heard that adding a little blackcurrant helps it pop.

I will give that a shot with the TFA Strawberry Ripe and Capella Strawberry Sweet when it arrives! Any advice on percentages to use?

 

[Ethendinythor]

Training & Capella are about the same concentration. I use about 7% total when combining with other flavours ( e.g. chocolate or donut). On it's own.....might need a little more?

 

[AshBFrontin]

Training & Capella are about the same concentration. I use about 7% total when combining with other flavours ( e.g. chocolate or donut). On it's own.....might need a little more?

So would that be 7% divided between the two Strawberry flavors then? Or 7% each? Sorry if I seem like a noob, it's because I am lol...

 

[Ethendinythor]

So would that be 7% divided between the two Strawberry flavors then? Or 7% each? Sorry if I seem like a noob, it's because I am lol...

7% total (might have to go higher as above)
I prefer a more natural strawberry so..
4% Strawberry Ripe
3% Sweet Strawberry

b.t.w. I'm no expert either......everybodys on a learning curve.
I use a dripper for tasting, that way I can just make up small samples to get a feel for the right amounts/proportions

 

[AshBFrontin]

7% total (might have to go higher as above)
I prefer a more natural strawberry so..
4% Strawberry Ripe
3% Sweet Strawberry

b.t.w. I'm no expert either......everybodys on a learning curve.
I use a dripper for tasting, that way I can just make up small samples to get a feel for the right amounts/proportions

Yes I use a Dripper as well! I did that with the above first attempt, came back to it today tho and it tasted WORSE somehow? Made a 10ml last night and then scaled it up to 200ML and left to steep in the hope i can salvage it

 

[Mikeyinmotion]

7% Ethyl Maltol is awful high. I rarely go above 2-3% EM as it can mute flavours at higher %.

If using sucraloae as well as EM I would omit one or the other.

 

[bigbluenose]

Strawberry can be a difficult flavour to get right.
Lots of people, me included, can find it hard to taste, no matter the % ?
My success has been with Inaweras Shisha Strawberry @ 5% and above and also Flavour Arts Strawberry around the 5%.
Like most mixes trial and error to find your sweet spot can be frustrating but you will get there.
To help make strawberry 'pop' try adding a good raspberry at a small % I like Flavour Arts raspberry @2% added and also citric acid can also be your friend here but be careful that you don't add too much as it tends to add a bitter sour taste when too high I find. I tend to add just 1 drop per 10ml.
Now regarding the sweetness be careful of EM as it has a tendency to start muting flavours.
Try a sucralose based concentrate, I really like Flavor Wests sweetener @2% or a stevia based sweetener which is great for adding sweetness to fruits.

 

[AshBFrontin]

Strawberry can be a difficult flavour to get right.
Lots of people, me included, can find it hard to taste, no matter the % ?
My success has been with Inaweras Shisha Strawberry @ 5% and above and also Flavour Arts Strawberry around the 5%.
Like most mixes trial and error to find your sweet spot can be frustrating but you will get there.
To help make strawberry 'pop' try adding a good raspberry at a small % I like Flavour Arts raspberry @2% added and also citric acid can also be your friend here but be careful that you don't add too much as it tends to add a bitter sour taste when too high I find. I tend to add just 1 drop per 10ml.
Now regarding the sweetness be careful of EM as it has a tendency to start muting flavours.
Try a sucralose based concentrate, I really like Flavor Wests sweetener @2% or a stevia based sweetener which is great for adding sweetness to fruits.

Fantastic and informative reply, thank you!

I have had a LOT about Inaweras Shisha Strawberry! Is it inherently sweet and fruity already..? Where would you recommend to get it from in the UK online if possible?

I have also read that Sucralose is the way forward for that sugary sweetness i'm after... Is this correct?

Yeah I feel as if I messed up by putting so much EM in . It was a nice 2% before, right at the start but i could still taste NOTHING so I kept notching it up and now it's just vulgar and tastes like chemicals lol.

Is not having Sucralose the simple reason these mixes are so bland then?