Grow Your Own

[ashauler]

You might try the "pile" method. Simple as it sounds, just get the leaves into good order (case) and pile them up on some type of cloth. I used an old cotton sheet. Alternate the cut ends of the stalks in the pile. Fold the sheet over to cover the piled leaves. Check and rotate them daily and try to move the inner most leaves of the pile to the exterior and vice-versa. This should speed up the coloring of the leaves significantly. Once they've reached the appropriate shade, meaning no green left, you will need to let them come completely out of order, i.e. crispy dry. I don't know the quantity of leaves you're working with, but if you have enough, this is where tying them into hands can be beneficial for both handling and the next phase of processing, which is fermentation. Many options exist to accomplish the fermentation phase as well.

Good luck!!