Pitch Mouth

Pitch mouth is a condition where an individuals tongue and teeth are stained black from excessive chewing of tar leaf.
Chewing tar leaf causes a mild euphoria that eases chronic pain and has a sweet flavor similar to molasses, but stains the individuals tongue slightly black. The stain will dissipate after a few skins of water. Tar leaf can assist with pain relief for several hours before having to chew more. The leaf should be chewed until dissolved and not swallowed. Swallowing the leaf will cause the individual to loose the contents of their stomach.
There are some who become addicted to the taste and euphoria of tar leaf, and will chew several leaves at once throughout the day. The constant use over time makes the black stains permanent. These people will also have a sickly sweet smell to their breath.
There is no regulation to prevent people from excessive use of tar leaf. There are some individuals that are highly against the use of recreational chewing. In some area's it has made the botanical extremely expensive preventing those who need the pain relief from affording it regularly, or even those who use it as part of a trade.
Tar leaf is a thorny bush that can be found throughout the Summer Vale. The branches are a dark crimson, the tips of the thorns a more bright red. The leaves are black and heart shaped. It is usually found growing beneath large shade trees in the more dense sections of forests. Tar leaf has various uses aside from pain relief:

• When mashed it acts as a binder. Scribes often use it to create binding for books. This can often lead to the books being attacked by page worms much quicker due to the sweet taste of tar leaf.
• It's used as an additive in sweets and baking. Favored most in the Autumn Vale.
• It can be used as a thickener in alchemical recipes without diluting the potency of the brew.

Type

Chemical Compound

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common