i decided to experiment with adding etanol just before basing. 45gr naoh in two identical 1.5l jars each. one bottle of ethanl as pictured in each jar.
given that the acidified tea in both jars was from the same 3l big jar and all other factors were roughly the same i expected similar results in both jars...
that did not happen. one jar, fluffy white material. second jar, fluffy white material + superman-like golden needles (very freaking beautiful).
two options, either i am a terribly lousy (al-)chemist or chemistry is not really an exact science. most probably both hold true.
anyway, as i find chemistry extremely hard, anybody willing to tell me which harmala(s) is(are) in crystal form and which harmala(s) is(are in the white fluffy stuff?
i have read conflicting opinions, so i am puzzled. please help.
even better, anybody willing to advise what to do to avoid results as in jar 1 (white fluff only) and to get results as in jar 2 (fluff + crystals)?

Those are NaOH crystals. NaOH isnt nearly as soluable in ethanol as in water.
111 g/100 ml 20°C for water

13.9 g/100 mL For ethanol.

Also the salt of the acid you used in the acid soup.

thanx

i somewhat doubted your statement that these are naoh crystals and as i dislike empty words i put it to experimental verification.
vinegar -> characterictic nice green color. also taste, quite different from naoh taste.
it seems to me quite without doubt that the statement that these crystals are naoh crystals failed experimental verification. the question still remains.
i kinda hoped that people here are more knowledgeable in that area... oh well...

Is there any chance that one jar became cooler than the other, or cooled more slowly ? Sometimes larger crystals can form that way. A taste test for NaOH is a little bold, don't you think?

When you say all factors were 'roughly' the same, what exactly was different ?