how to identify vegetable tanned leather
âThere are two simple tests you can try to determine whether the leather is chrome, or vegetable-tannedâ. Test 1: Put a small narrow strip of leather in boiling water. If the leather instantly curls up, it is vegetable-tanned.A chrome-tanned leather will just float around in water.Test 2: Burn a piece of leather with a lighter.If you have a vegetable-tanned leather, it will not burn in flames and the ashes will be grey or black. A chrome-tanned leather will burn more easily and its ashes are green.est 1: Put a small narrow strip of leather in boiling water. If the leather instantly curls up, it is vegetable-tanned. A chrome-tanned leather will just float around in water. Test 2: Burn a piece of leather with a lighter.