Snow Herb

The Snow herb plant grows in the high mountains and frozen tundra areas. It flourishes in cold and ice and withers and dies in warm or hot locations. The leaves are very dark green verging almost to black with brown stalks. The flowers are small and red. The plant has a cold burning spiciness in flavor that is well paired with fish in foods. The powder or potion of Snow Herb bestows a 4 hr cold resistance when ingested. Fire and smoking remove this effect, leaving only the spicy flavor. The herb is mixed in oils or grease to make a warming linament used for aches and pains. The whole plant may used in making formulations, or just leaves. The seeds and flowers also share the beneficial properties. An interesting effect noted by master alchemists is that when added in Dragon Oil ( Oil Berry, and Fire beetle extract) it increases the heat of the fire when the Dragon oil is ignighted. The quantity needed for effects is a bolus of egg size, roughly 8-10 grams.

Zho Myo, Imperial Alchemist. "The Golden Flower tome of alchemy"

Snow Herb is sold for 10 silver Talents per dose.  Harvesters are typically paid 50 Talents per kilo.

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Snow herb is an annual plant that grows around ice and snow. The small seeds scatter in wind and rains or seasonal snow melt. The plants will sprout the next year, throwing one to three shoots that will push up through ice and snow up to a meter within just few weeks. In the summer and early autumn it will bloom with small red flowers. The plant loses leaves and hybernates in the winter. A fully leafy plant may weigh 200 to 300 grams. The plants grow widely separated rather than in clusters, generally no more than 1 plant per square meter.