How to Dry White Sage
White sage is one of over 750 sage species and is commonly used for burning in a ceremonial, sacred or cleansing ritual. This particular variety isn't widely used for cooking, but it can be ground or minced and added to chicken or bean dishes when a savory flavor is called for. Drying white sage doesn't require much work other than time and a piece of twine or string. Once the bundle is dried you can light the end to create a calm, grounding smoke to energize and purify any setting.
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Instructions
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1
Harvest several leaves from the sage plant. Wait until the plant has begun to flower---generally in the summer or fall seasons---before you remove the leaves. Take care not to remove all of the leaves or the plant will have nothing to bear in future years. If using this sage for ceremonial purposes, offer a prayer to the plant in thanks for its gift.
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2
Lay the leaves down on a screen or a drying basket and leave in an open space for at least two days. The leaves don't need to be in direct sunlight, but they shouldn't be in a completely dark room, either.
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3
Feel the leaves after two days. The texture should be slightly limp and just beginning to dry a little, but still have some give. The leaves need to sit before bundling so your sage stick doesn't blacken from too much moisture content remaining in the leaves when it was wrapped.
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4
Gather together several sage leaves; you can make any size bundle you like, but try to get at least ten leaves together for one bundle.
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Tie a piece of twine or string around your sage bundle. Start at the bottom of the bundle and wrap one end of the string twice around before tying a knot. Wrap the rest of the bundle tightly with several turns of the string and tie it off at the top of the bundle.
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Tie one more piece around the end of the sage stick and continue drying on the screen or drying basket for at least one week.
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Tips & Warnings
Never leave a burning smudge stick unattended.
