Have you gotten yourself some leaves from the Salvia divinorum plant? If so, you’ll definitely want to learn how to process them to make them suitable for ingestion or smoking. You’ll find out how to do just that below.
Drying The Leaves
Whether you’ve grown your own plant or you’ve purchased Salvia Divinorum online some leaves, you’ll need to learn how to dry the leaves. This is really the first step of the process. The good news is that drying the leaves is very easy and it can be achieved through many means.
After you’ve managed to dry the leaves completely, you need to make sure that they’re stored properly. The leaves will need to be stored in sealed containers! Also, make sure that you store the leaves in a dark place. A closet or cabinet should suffice.
Keeping your leaves in a glass jar will ensure that they maintain their potency for as long as humanly possible.
Low Humidity Room
It might be a good idea to only collect the leaves after they’re died or have been shed. Once you’ve collected your leaves, you need to get them dried as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to do that is by storing them in room with very low humidity.
You’ll also need to be cautious about mold. To help ensure that your leaves do not develop mold, you’ll need to be proactive. Flip the leaves over as much as possible. If you’re going to use this method to dry the leaves, you really need to just wait it out. There is some debate regarding the effectiveness of shed and picked leaves. You could easily keep the leaves separated to find out which ones you prefer the most.
This method offers numerous benefits. For instance, it puts far less stress and pressure on your leaves. If you remove all of the leaves right away, there is a good chance that your trees are going to die. Shed leaves will be in prime condition for processing.
Creating Salvia Tobacco
If you intend to smoke the salvia, you will definitely want to consider using this method. In order to get started, you’ll want to pick some huge leaves. Stack the leaves on top of each other. Now, you need to cut up the leaves.
Try to make sure that the leaves are cut into .5 centimeter of .20 inch pieces. After that, you should leave the scraps on a plate. After that, you’re going to need to wait it out. Again, be sure to flip the leaves regularly to ensure that they do not develop mold.
Allow the leaves to dry thoroughly. Don’t let them become bone dry though. Just make sure that they feel dry. Once you’re reached this point, you can actually smoke the finished product. Most people agree that this type of salvia will be much easier to smoke and far less harsh than leaves that have been dried completely. There are some downsides to using this method.
It is believed that leaves that have been partly dried will probably be somewhat weaker than completely dried leaves. On top of that, the process is very slow. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most effective ways to make smokable tobacco.
Turn On The Oven
Pretty much everyone has an oven at home. The good news is that you can use it to dry out your salvia leaves much quicker. Just remember that you need to keep a close eye on it or you’re going to wind up frying your leaves. Try to keep the temperature below 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, use a dish that is safe for the oven. Don’t overdo it. Once the leaves have become crisp, you’re finished. The only downside here is the fact that a lot of people will wind up burning their leaves. Still, if you can get it right, this is one of the quickest ways to dry out your leaves.
Using A Dehydrator
Do you have a food dehydrator at home? If so, you may want to consider using it to dry your leaves. Food dehydrators can be purchased online and in most big box stores. With a dehydrator, you’ll be able to dry out the leaves safely, conveniently and fairly quickly.
This means that you’ll be able to enjoy your salvia much faster than you would otherwise. Just remember to keep an eye on the leaves. When they get pretty crisp, you should stop. Check the stems from time to time to see how dry the leaves are. Bend the stems. When they snap, you can guarantee that your leaves have finished.
A dehydrator is probably the best option. It is impossible to get leaves drier using any other method. It is also as easy as possible. The only bad thing is that you’ll need to buy a dehydrator and these appliances can be a little costly. If you’re going to be drying a lot of Salvia leaves, the investment will prove to be well worth it.
Drying With Calcium Chloride
It is also possible to dry your leaves with CACL2 or calcium chloride. The process is fairly complicated, but it can get your leaves dried within a matter of days. Plus, you’re going to have to find a store that sells this chemical. It may be available in hardware stores. If not, you’ll need to visit a special chemical supply house. This method works, but the alternatives methods are probably better.
Making The Extract
Once you’ve gotten the dried leaves, you’ll probably want to turn it into an extract. The process is pretty simple. Just put the leaves in a jar. Then, be sure to cover them using acetone. Allow the combination to sit for at least 24 hours. You should stir from time to time.
Then, you need to pour the combination through a coffee filter. Allow the leaves to soak in acetone once again. Once you’ve completed this a few times, you should let the acetone evaporate. Do so using a baking dish. Add the crushed leaves and then let them dry. Once they’re dry, you’re good to go.