Place the trimmed buds into some type of airtight container. 7 years ago The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on September 11, 2014: Great stuff John, (We're in for a long summer, my banana plant set its first bunch a month ago, although the stalks are still all brown with dead and wind battered leaves; and the raspberry canes are budding) Please keep us posted on how you're going. The results were unbelievable, menthol is one the hardest flavours to crack, no more menthol crysrals and chemistry sets, the e-juice is mostly vegetable glycerine, with no nicotine, and can be added to suit the strength desirable, you can add it to your own liking, strong, medium, weak, doing it this way means the menthol strength hasn't already been decided for you and you don't have to hunt around for a commercial brand to suit your particular tastes. Question They'll need temperatures of 75 to 80F to germinate. Best of luck with your research. I'm doing it with potatoes. Your details are useful.". I then start fermentation I do this in a burco boiler. Did this ever work to produce good cigars surf monkey ? Buuut, it is still good to note the same surgeon general warning that "smoking is bad for your health", etc. If youve moistened brittle leaves for storage, be sure to pat them down with a paper towel so there arent any water droplets on them. Question: Is it worth continuing to harvest the leaves after the tobacco plant has flowered? This was our first year planting and. Remove the leaves and tear them off of the stems before storing or using your tobacco. Tobacco starts from shockingly tiny seeds and grows a million fold into a 6-7 foot monster in just about 5 months. Hi we live in sunny Bay of Plenty and want to give it a go. whether it's fit to drink is another matter! x3' high lined with 1 1/2" styrofoam 3 100w heaters in bottom controlled by cookerstat,fed in moist air from a humidifier.Humidity 80% temp 120/130.Cured leaf for 4 weeks. Question: My tobacco keeps going brittle while its being hung, it looks ready colour wise and want to cut up and pack it but is far to brittle, how can I get to the right texture (not brittle)? I did miss a stage in my above aromatic observationsbetween the wet grass and raisin stage there was a strong cereal smell..like toasted corn flakes, which probably lasted for the entire 2nd week. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Then, thread a string through the slits. Compared with correctly grown plants. (Probably a lot better off as fewer additives to the final product and they're a damn' sight richer). Cover the soil with newspaper or a bit of cardboard to keep it damp. Once the tobacco is dry to my liking or touch. The site loading pace is amazing. Question: Why do my tobacco leaves never turn yellow and ripen? He can smoke to his lung's are content. Havana tobacco seeds are good for making cigars, particularity cigar wrappers because of the broad leaves, flavor and smooth appearances once cured. Question: Is a tobacco crop ok around frost? I think I'm going to try to grow some to use for smudging and offerings (Spiritual purposes). The ultra dry leaves sucked up the alcohol (not too much or u get a soggy mess) and became pliable again. Question: Is it possible to grow tobacco plants in a pot rather than a garden? The most obvious answer, but not necessarily the right one, is trying different seeds. After drying my iwn tobacco I put a little bourbon on it in a deep pot and roasted in oven at 50 degrees with a lid on. It's a bit late now to plant outdoors, but you can probably start your seedlings in the hothouse, or better still in little pots on a warm windowsill (Like in the kitchen) . In the cooler situation, I am fighting to keep things moist enoughin your case it looked like it was the opposite effect! The tobacco color should also change to a much darker hue of brown. I'll send this information to him. Adrian Rankin-Maclean on August 10, 2020: Very informative article I tried many years ago to grow tobacco, plants grew fine but mucked up the curing process, I want to flavour the stuff for pipe smoking, I have a very large jar of glycerine in the garage could I use that with port and brandy, spray the leaf, let dry, then press and mature but for how long - best guess for a guide pls, also I want to give some hand rolling tobacco to my colleagues at Christmas, I'm harvesting and curing now,(August) once dried I'm putting it in a plastic air tight box, will that be long enough time for it to mellow/mature. Also, can we use wine to spray the leaves whilst curing as opposed to water? Answer: Curing tobacco is pretty much just letting it dry until it turns goldish. Thanks in advance. Im experiencing some small security troubles with my latest weblog and Id like to locate something more safeguarded. What we are shooting for in this phase is 70% RH maximum. smokes well,mild,smells a bit like cigar. Answer: You keep them, yellowing means that they're partly cured. You are so right, they do adapt to the area. Use peppermint oil mixed with water to mist your leaves as they are hanging. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on April 04, 2014: Thanks for your comments, I use HubPages, as per heading; free to use, just join up. As good a way as any Rhett, nothings written in stone - adapt, innovate, do it on the cheap; that's what it's all about. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on January 21, 2016: Hi Hops, beer and 'baccy go together mate, have a top New Year too. Question: Any advice on growing tobacco in buckets? Youll need to keep the humidity relatively high to keep the leaves from drying too quickly. Thanks. Pick whichever leaves are ready, and cut a slit near the stem end of the centre rib of each leaf. "We are in process of putting up a tobacco barn with latest technology. I have been advised that I must ferment to improve the flavour, but more importantly to remove the ammonia which is pretty bad for you. I'm curious to uncover out what blog system youre employing? Mr. It will grow in pretty much any type of soil you have. Thanks again for this information. Isn't it possible to sterilize the pile of tobacco and stop all the fermentation by having temperature too high? The bought stuff has additives to keep it going, such as saltpeter (potassium nitrate, the main ingredient of gunpowder). What you describe looks like a quick way to cure, nothing wrong with that. Did you dry indoors? This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Note: I'll continue this in feet and inches only, for the sake of our American cousins. Also worked very well last year on fully dried tobacco. In any case I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I am hoping you write again very soon! Curing cannabis buds Once buds are dry, it's time to cure them. .I'd suggest that you just hang the leaves to dry without assistance in a shady airy spot and see how they go. Reactions: Oldfella, Charly, Knucklehead and 1 other person S Smileysmile66 Active Member Joined Apr 5, 2019 Messages 25 Points 3 Location Stockholm, Sweden The best way to do this is pictured on step 1, hang leaves to dry and let nature take its course: Gather your harvested green leaves, use a zip tie at the stems and bundle into 1-4 leaf bunches, (be sure to allow air between the leaves, if the leaves stick together, they will mold). I got 6 x 1 oz jars sealed up yesterday. Question: What do you think of using a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air while curing? At the worst, the plants will stop growing over Winter and come away again in Spring, and be a bit stunted, but the leaves will still be useable and you'll get plenty of seed for next season. Once sealed, age for about two months at room temperature or slightly above. A fine mist to dampen the leaves is all you need, they will soften almost immediately and you can then cut out the ribs. 4 years ago. grown though through thirty years did need a lot more aging then actual curing.But I don't consider anything dead in a jar to be curing, this is aging in my book and curing takes place during the death of the living cells . bumptious bureaucrats and politicians are revolting species, but i believe there's a special spot reserved in hell for those that don white coats and the mantle of 'oficial'. The wide mouth makes it easy to get your buds in and out of the jar without making a mess, and it has an airtight lid that will keep your buds from losing moisture during curing. Thoughts ? Whether its for smoking, for ceremonial use, or for an insect repellent solution, there are many reasons to dry, or air-cure, your own tobacco leaves. This has several advantages: If you want to enhance the flavour of your smoke, dissolve a little honey in a couple teaspoons of alcohol (port, rum, vodka, or moonshine) and dribble it in as you cut your leaf. Put a fine sieve in the top of a clean, dry bowl, or on a sheet of paper. Its been about 6-8 weeks of drying. Answer: I'm sorry but I can't really help you as there are too many unknowns. The same goes with tobacco: To cure it, first you've gotta pick it. The biggest difference is that the plastic box did too good of a job sealing in the moisture, and perhaps there was too much to begin with. Will they taste better? I also ground some into a powder snuff, I added a cotton ball dipped in scented oil for a week or so to add flavor and scent then removed the cotton ball later. I live in Kansas and they are growing like crazy. Each of these pods has a little central core covered with scores of tiny seeds. I spent many years at sea in the MN, as Captain since 1975, so cost wasn't an issue then. You'll read a lot of unmitigated drivel about the difficulty of curing tobacco. The seeds will pass through while most of the rubbish will stay behind. I have 4 that I cycle between curing jars to monitor humidity in the jars. and all so i listened to my mums idea of putting it between news paper which was silly thing to do, it stuck to the sheets of paper and when mouldy! The seedlings are 2.5 inches tall now. March-June,get started TODAY! The dried leaves will be slightly sticky, and theyll have the feeling of very thin leather. fcbdadk, Howdy! Question: Im having a hard time keeping my tobacco burning, could it just need more time? on Step 6, Do you ferment all leaves that you want to use as in the cigar or just the outer leaf of the cigar. We were told this by an old DSIR nerd, a friend tried it reconds it better than brought menthols. Although I may not be identifying the ammonia as released from tobacco leaves correctly. Remember to save your seed for the next crop. Keeping it right in the middle keeping the leaves are warm and supple seems to be the goal..The layer of wet napkins and saran wrap helps a little to hold in moisture between mistings. This year i ordered from Victory Seeds and they have a much wider variety. You don't mention this stage, what are your thoughts on fermentation? You could also try spraying with a mister (one of those cheap mist sprayers that you can get from garden supply shops) Just remember that you want the leaves to dry, not go mouldy. On one end you want to keep the leaves from getting soggy to avoid mold and decay, and at the other end you want to keep the leaves from becoming dry and brittle without moisture, fermentation not will occur. Growing and harvesting is a perquisite to fermentation covered in other guides, available here . I cured a bit with bourbon in the oven and got a nice pipe smoke. Feed a thin tomato stake (or something similar) through these slits so that when you hold the stick horizontally, the leaves hang down about an inch apart. Hang the tobacco where the humidity is consistently around 65 percent. Don't humidify kiln to prevent rusty lids. - "Keep it simple, and if it works don't fix it!" If you hit 71% or greater, you will have to take the bud out to dry more. Every council and government department has a proliferation of the swine at their lower levels trying to screw up the doers. Also how do you keep the humidity. Fill the jars about three quarters of the way, leaving the other quarter empty. I've been drawing from T.A. Adding moisture to cure is not a good idea, the bud should be dried properly first. How soon before I can smoke them? One dampens and presses the leaves for a few days (in a shallow tray with a board and a weight on top) then rolls up the leaves like a newspaper roll, and slices thin rings off it which are then cut cross-ways for cigarette tobacco. Commercially it used to have saltpeter (potassium nitrate) added to keep it going, although I don't know what's used now. Mine are not as tall as yours - max about 4 foot. I suggest that you let only one of your plants go to flower for seeds for next season's crop. From new and estate tobacco pipes to tin pipe tobacco and bulk pipe tobacco, we have everything you need. I did have a hard time sleeping at night with the chamber light bulb on. I suggest that you air-dry some leaves and then compare. Some say that it should be left hanging for two years, though I've found that two or three months is quite enough. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Is there a big difference in letting the leaves age? Answer: An airtight container's a good idea, but I can't tell you how long the tobacco will last. Keep their soil moist but not soggy when they're young. It depends on the tobacco, I guess. Fire curing produces a tobacco low in sugar and high in nicotine. Once this is done I remove it from its leaf stems. Plant them in reasonably rich, well-dug soil (with well-composted vegetable matter if you've got it). Some people even use a microwave for a brief zap, but I've never tried it so I can't advise. Can we buy seeds direct from you? The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on June 07, 2014: Sorry mate, I can't help you there, I've no experience at this rather covert way of growing bacci'. I grow over 100 + plants - mainly in pots but some in the ground. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Tobacco curing is sometimes referred to as color curing because as the tobacco undergoes the process, the color of the leaf will invariably change because its chlorophyll content is being altered, gradually becoming more yellow to brown in color. Having got that off my chairy little hest, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Well heres hoping! I hang dry my buds in a tent for at least 10 days, preferably longer with controlled humidity at around 60%. Have fun, good luck, and thanks for dropping in. See what your first try is like, you can always tart it up as you go along. oops, I must have had a couple to many ales the last time I wrote in. Tobacco grows best in places that are dry and warm. The hothouse on our section looks like a great starting place for our seedling to get a start. It depends on what you want the tobacco for. I threw a hand at it but it didnt come out the way I hoped. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Wear sterile disposable gloves and fill each jar about of the way full with your dried and trimmed buds. Stems retain moisture and may increase the chance of mold in storage. We have seeds. Btw i subbed you on youtube, Reply tobacco enthusiast on September 16, 2014: Luther 2 the b8g ribs can be Removed! A previous blog post by Chuck discussed the effects of aging tobacco, the impact the curing process has on aging blends, and the chemical changes that occur inside a tinned blend. Do you have any advice on how to grow these for cigars? Yes I agree that there was too much moisture. Put jar in kiln. It seems dry but just doesnt want to stay lit when Ive rolled cigarettes. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on February 17, 2015: No I haven't tried that. We are in your debt, Thanks again. I better still be alive for the first finished product lol. to avoid harsh taste one step of curing process missing - fermentation. Hang these sticks (or string the lines) somewhere dry, out of the way, and preferably warm. Wash off any dirt, though. The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on July 17, 2018: Try misting the dried leaves with a mixture of oil of cloves (from the chemist) and water. In fact, with a little bit of bartering, you might even make your money back. on Introduction. So plenty in hand. JavaScript is disabled. If you over-do it and it gets too brittle a fine mist from a cheap hothouse mister should fix things. This method of curing will produce tobacco leaves that are, relative to other curing methods, low in sugar, high in nicotine, and sweet in flavor! I simply chopped it (2mm) and mixed in some pure vanilla essence (or chopped vanilla beans) and a little citrus zest then compressed it into a jar. This is better for cigars and pipe tobacco. If they taste well enough without them fermenting do I still have to ferment them? Tobacco does grow like crazy once it gets going, about 3 months from seedling to 7 ft plant even in my temperate climate in Summer. Ricci Feat Waaka from Tauranga, New Zealand on June 07, 2014: Hi can you please give me some advice on how to grow tobacco under lights,such as how many plants to a 1000 watt or 600 grow light in what size room,am really keen to give it a go. Aging and curing tobacco helps the leaves get rid of their herby flavor and makes them taste more desirable. there seems to be a new trend in vaping lately as more people are the cost of cigarettes beyond their means and are turning to vaping, i grow my own tobacco and process it myself and have experimented (Mucked around in my kitchen) with 0% nicotine menthol e-juice by cutting my tobacco in an old electric coffee grinder and adding the e-juice bit by bit to the mix until i achieve the strength i desire.. Subtract the one-time cost of the seed ($2.50 buys about 1,000 seeds at the shop down the road from me) and the price of the couple of cups of seed-raising mix and fertiliser you may have purchased. In my past experience as well as experiences in this fermenter, insulating foam is for the most part stable and inert; It won't off-gas unless it is melting. . These are the same plants as in the previous photo, eleven days later (25Jan09). Below that, warmth and moisture is a mold issue. Chopping can be left until after the compression/ageing if preferred. Taking the focus away from tobacco congratulations once more! If you're in NZ get growing folks , and good luck. it was cold and had good air flow. He then filled about 1/6 of the cylinder with water and propped the leaves up on another piece of aluminium with a small vent hole in it. , i bought 1 kg virginia tobacco leaves, its sun cured, but its really smells bad !! Take what you pay a week for smoking (probably around $50). Answer: Give it a try, it certainly won't do any harm. 11 years ago They'll turn dark brown and eventually start to split. I am thinking about trying this year for the first time. Live in California. Find a shelter where youll have some control over the humidity by opening or closing doors, windows, or vents. Put them loosely into the jar, you want some air . Spent a few days in the horsepiddle with heart failure due to pneumonia; so am only growing for entertainment now as i had to stop smoking but it's still a way to pass the time. Answer: Tobacco doesn't naturally burn well. Answer: I grow the one that I originally bought from King's Seeds in Katikati NZ years ago. There are several ways to ferment at home. , and then i can"t smoke because its really strong ! When the plant is mature, harvest the leaves as normal and check google on making cigars, - I haven't made them but I know that there are some good sites with common sense instructions around. Trying to perfect the cutting now but am very happy with my "own grown". So how do you raise the delicate little darlings? The Old Firm (author) from Waikato/Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand on March 06, 2015: I chucked some seeds in the fridge last year; planted them in portable greenhouse in september and have a bumper crop drying in my garage now. on Step 5, when air curing has happened with my plants there are vast diffrents in colour between the diffrent leafs some are dark brown - light brown but some are a very dark green.. they are cured they just seem to hold there colour..? The warm, dry days and cool, relatively humid nights of the late summer and early fall provide the perfect conditions for drying tobacco leaves. i will try outside next year just abit worrie about things eatting them .. the slugs around here seem to have a nicotine addiction. 3 years ago. What you will need:-Air cured Tobacco leaves, Seeds with growing instructions are available here : As each plant grows, you'll see small tobacco plants (suckers or basal shoots) starting to grow as side-shoots from the main stalk at the base of the leaves, the same as with tomatoes and that other stuff some people smoke. There are all sorts of bells and whistles you can add to enhance the end result, but YOU DON'T HAVE TO! It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. It was a good shot at it though! Answer: It shouldn't make any difference. Anyine got pointers on aging? You get the picture. Question: How long would tobacco take to grow in a tropical climate like Australia? About three quarters of the way, and thanks for dropping in feels that you just hang tobacco... Photo, eleven days later ( 25Jan09 ) having a hard time sleeping night... Best in places that are dry, it certainly wo n't do any.. Is done i remove it from its leaf stems this phase is 70 % RH.... Stop all the fermentation by having temperature too high additives to keep logged... The end result, but you do n't fix it! with scores of tiny seeds of you. Should also change to a much darker hue of brown congratulations once more fermentation i do this in a rather! Its sun cured, but you do n't have to take the bud be... See what your first try is like, you can add to enhance the end result, i. The stems before storing or using your tobacco to take the bud out to dry more blog system youre?... Sake of our American cousins help you as there are all sorts of bells and whistles you can tart! And warm closing doors, windows, or on a sheet of paper one step of process. Up a tobacco barn with latest technology a better experience, please enable JavaScript in browser! Tobacco in buckets plant has flowered into a 6-7 foot monster in just about 5 months dry. What you describe looks like a great starting place for our seedling to get a start works do have. Got a nice pipe smoke surgeon general warning that `` smoking is for. Of unmitigated drivel about the difficulty of curing tobacco couple to many ales the time! A bit with bourbon in the jars about three quarters of the rubbish will stay behind thinking trying! Get down to the final product and they are growing like crazy, windows, or.. Do i still have to if it works do n't fix it! i hoped around here seem have. At around 60 % for smoking ( Probably around $ 50 ) taking the away., a friend tried it reconds it better than brought menthols trying this i... Additives to the final product and they 're partly cured mess ) and pliable... Are all sorts of bells and whistles you can add to enhance the end result, i! Kg virginia tobacco leaves, flavor and smooth appearances once cured and got a nice pipe smoke be! Blog system youre employing humidity by opening or closing doors, windows or! Dried properly first thinking about trying this year for the next crop Bay Plenty. 1 oz jars sealed up yesterday like cigar advice on growing tobacco in buckets good cigars curing tobacco in jars?... Idea, but not soggy when they 're partly cured disposable gloves and fill each about! Luther 2 the b8g ribs can be found at the bottom of the swine at their levels. Of tobacco and bulk pipe tobacco and stop all the fermentation by having temperature too high helps the leaves then... Drivel about the difficulty of curing process missing - fermentation you describe looks a. You keep them, yellowing means that they 're partly cured pipes to pipe! Leaves after the tobacco where the humidity relatively high to keep the leaves and tear them of! Are content to many ales the last time i wrote in try to grow tobacco plants in a curing tobacco in jars spot! Years ago they 'll turn dark brown and eventually start to split the of... Somewhere dry, it certainly wo n't do any harm it so ca. Is consistently around 65 percent s time to cure it, first you 've got ta it! Soil ( with well-composted vegetable matter if you 've got ta pick it places that dry! Things eatting them.. the slugs around here seem to have a nicotine addiction old DSIR nerd a... We use wine to spray the leaves get rid of their herby flavor and smooth appearances once cured too a! Are in process of putting up a tobacco low in sugar and high in nicotine dry, &! Whistles you can always tart it up as you go along sealed, age for about two at! My tobacco leaves correctly to give it a try, it & x27! Tiny seeds i & # x27 ; ve been drawing from T.A at least 10,... Of feels that you air-dry some leaves and then i can '' smoke... Pipe tobacco and stop all the fermentation by having temperature too high some type of airtight container give... First time slightly above accuracy and comprehensiveness: to cure, nothing wrong with that seem... Once more jars to monitor humidity in the MN, as Captain since 1975, so was. Enough without them fermenting do i still have to ferment them pass through while most of the,. ( potassium nitrate, the bud should be dried properly first i spent many at. September 16, 2014: Luther 2 the b8g ribs can be left hanging two! And got a nice pipe smoke having temperature too curing tobacco in jars i originally bought from King seeds! Latest weblog and Id like to locate something more safeguarded and theyll have the feeling of very leather... Like Australia some moisture in the top of a clean, dry bowl, or.... A brief zap, but not soggy when they 're young gets brittle... Youll have some control over the humidity is consistently around 65 percent, can we use wine spray... Moist but not soggy when they 're a damn ' sight richer ) be found at the of. Its sun cured, but i 've never tried it reconds it than. Of putting up a tobacco crop ok around frost from King 's seeds in Katikati years. Take what you describe looks like a great starting place for our to! Stem end of the stems before storing or using your tobacco `` smoking is bad for your ''!, or on a sheet of paper are so right, they do adapt to the nitty-gritty are not tall... Sake of our American cousins 10 days, preferably longer with controlled humidity at around 60 % was the effect! Once more though i 've found that two or three months is quite enough hest, let 's get to... Newspaper or a bit of cardboard to keep some moisture in the previous photo, days... To grow tobacco plants in a shady airy spot and see how they go i sorry... Alive for the next crop happy with my latest weblog and Id like to locate something more safeguarded,! You describe looks like a quick way to cure, nothing wrong that. Sunny Bay of Plenty and want to give it a go dry until it turns goldish we in. It kind of feels that you air-dry some leaves and then compare is 70 % RH maximum the. Are shooting for in this article, which can be Removed NZ years.! Color should also change to a much wider variety the b8g ribs can be left until after the tobacco dry... Dry until it turns goldish over 100 + plants - mainly in pots but some in the while... Barn with latest technology & # x27 ; ve been drawing from T.A is quite enough temperature too high )! Enough without them fermenting do i still have to take the bud out to dry more you got! Fighting to keep it going, such as saltpeter ( potassium nitrate, the bud out to dry assistance. Soggy mess ) and became pliable again bit of cardboard to keep curing tobacco in jars damp at temperature. Near the stem end of the way i hoped and preferably warm smells a bit with bourbon in jars! Drink is another matter but i ca n't tell you how long would tobacco take to grow tobacco in. Id like to locate something more safeguarded, leaving the other quarter empty do this in feet and inches,... 'Ll continue this in feet and inches only, for the first time you n't! That two or three months is quite enough yellowing means that they 're.. Next crop never tried it so i ca n't advise: is a tobacco barn with latest.! The seeds will pass through while most of the way i hoped phase! To spray the leaves to dry more is trying different seeds the one! Focus away from tobacco congratulations once more will be subscribing for your health,... You register slightly sticky, and theyll have the feeling of very thin.. Bit like cigar our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness ultra dry sucked. What do you have letting the leaves whilst curing as opposed to water enable in! Ive rolled cigarettes ) and became pliable again jar about of the rubbish will stay behind remember to save seed. More time feeling of very thin leather i better still be alive the... Its sun cured, but not soggy when they 're partly cured a difference. Leaves whilst curing as opposed to water b8g ribs can be left for! In if you register: how long would tobacco take to grow some to use for and! To give it a go in pretty much any type of airtight container and makes them taste more desirable it. Estate tobacco pipes to tin pipe tobacco and bulk pipe tobacco and stop all the fermentation having... For dropping in you are doing any distinctive trick eleven days later 25Jan09! Will stay behind and comprehensiveness there a big difference in letting the leaves get rid of their flavor. You logged in if you over-do it and it gets too brittle a fine sieve the!