Some people who use dried Salvia frequently may want to grow their crop and process the dried leaves themselves. What is excellent about these dried leaves is that they can retain their potency for an extended period of years if they are appropriately stored in lightproof containers. Learning how to dry its leaves is a must for people who want to experience its highest potency effects.

Drying Techniques

There are six different ways how to dry the leaves. The first method is simply waiting for your plant’s dried leaves to be shed. That way, you do not pick the leaves and deprive the plant of leaves that it probably needs to grow. Once the leaves are shed, you must place them on a plate or flat surface in a low-humidity environment. Turn them now and then, and once they are dry, you can store them in a container away from light. There is also no guarantee that your plant will still be in good condition once the leaves are shed.

Dried Salvia: More Methods

Another method is to make tobacco out of salvinorin, which is done by picking the leaves and stacking them. Once it has piled up, you need to cut them into half-centimeter strips, then pile them into a plate, turning them twice daily until they become dry but not crispy.

The following method is done by drying the leaves. It performs as a food dehydrator. What is great about this is that the leaves dried way quickly. Dry the leaves until they are crispy. However, you still have to buy a food dehydrator to use this method. If you want to use something readily available in your kitchen, you can try drying a batch of leaves in an oven.

Regulating Temperature for Dried Salvia

Put the temperature at no more than 175 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also create dried salvia leaves by using the microwave. However, this is less convenient than the food dehydrator and oven since you have to dry the leaves 10 seconds at a time and check them until they are dry enough to be stored in a lightproof container. Finally, the last method of drying leaves is using calcium chloride.

It would be best if you placed calcium chloride in the bottom of a polyethylene container. An aluminum foil is placed on top of the calcium chloride, but make sure that the foil does not touch the chemical. You then place your batch on top of the aluminum foil, ensuring that the leaves do not touch the calcium chloride. Seal this setup, and you will have dried leave in two days.

Overall

Though the process may be little taxing and slow, you can be assured that your batch is thoroughly dried. The key here is to keep the dried salvia leaves stored in a jar away from the light, and you can be assured that the leaves potency will be retained for a long period of time.