Othip

Othip is a plant found throughout Aurelimoore, that is cultivated, harvested, dried and cured so that they can be sold across the realm. It is a common commodity smoked throughout the realm, people typically smoke it in pipes or cigars, but it can be chewed or ground up into a snuff.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Othip is a plant with large leaves, which typically grows to be several feet tall.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Commonly used to smoke in pipes or cigars, can also be ground into a snuff or made into a chewable form.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Refinement

Othip needs to be harvested, dried and cured before it can be smoked. Curing and subsequent aging allow for the slow oxidation and degradation of carotenoids in the othip leaf. This produces certain compounds in the othip leaves and gives a sweet hay, tea, rose oil, or fruity aromatic flavor that contributes to the "smoothness" of the smoke. Starch is converted to sugar, a caramelization process that also adds flavor. 
Othip can be cured through several methods, including:

Air-cured othip is hung in well-ventilated barns and allowed to dry over a period of four to eight weeks. Air-cured othip is low in sugar, which gives the othip smoke a light, mild flavor, and high in nicotine. Cigar and burley othip are 'dark' air-cured.

Fire-cured othip is hung in large barns where fires of hardwoods are kept on continuous or intermittent low smoulder, and takes between three days and ten weeks, depending on the process and the othip. Fire curing produces a othip low in sugar and high in nicotine, the smoke from the smouldering hardwoods can add to and enhance the flavor of the othip.

Sun-cured othip dries uncovered in the sun. Sun-cured othip is low in sugar and nicotine.
Some othip go through a second stage of curing, known as fermenting or sweating. Undergoing fermentation while pressed in a casing solution containing sugar and/or flavoring to add additional flavoring to the othip.

Odor

Othip has a sweet, smokey, earthy smell to it.

Color

Green in its natural state, brown after being dried and cured.