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Does anyone else here collect and dry their own deer tongue to add to their tobacco blends?
It is common rn in the south eastern US, recognize-able by tall (often reddish purple) stalks with tiny purple flowers and thick, leathery basal leaves. Found in sandy soils generally uphill from rivers or creeks.
To collect it, gently pull or cut with a knife several of the larger basal leaves on each clump (it usually grows in small groves so it is best to gather several leaves from many plants rather than pick any of them bare and kill them).
Then rinse off and leave on paper or handkerchief on a counter or somewhere indoors with decent airflow, not in dark or direct sunlight, but it is not very sensitive to where. Dry until brittle and then keep in BREATHABLE container like a paper bag or cloth satchel. If kept in plastic or glass it goes sour and smells like rotten green tea.
I like to wrap bunches in my handkerchiefs and leave in undershirt drawer because it imparts a pleasant and long lasting smell to fabrics.
To use for tobacco, simple strip the vein out and crumble by hand to small particles, add to tobacco about 5-20% and let it sit for a little while to impart the flavor.
