This application provides high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics and development of these plants via breeding. This application also provides hybrid seeds that give rise to high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics. This application provides methods of growing and harvesting high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics. This application further provides tobacco products made from high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics, and methods making such tobacco products.

A method for producing a vaporisable material comprising plant fibres for use in a vapour generating device which generates a vapour by heating the vaporisable material is disclosed. The method comprises reducing the particle size of the plant fibres to less than 1.5 mm and mixing plant fibres of at least two ranges of particle size. The invention also relates to vaporisable material for use in a vapour generating device obtainable by the method.

A method for producing a vaporisable material comprising plant fibres for use in a vapour generating device which generates a vapour by heating the vaporisable material is disclosed. The method comprises reducing the particle size of the plant fibres to less than 1.5 mm and mixing plant fibres of at least two ranges of particle size. The invention also relates to vaporisable material for use in a vapour generating device obtainable by the method.

A product for holding a tobacco material or a tobacco substitute material includes a body defining a storage environment and an electronic device. The electronic device includes an input means to generate an input signal from an external stimulus; an output means to generate an output signal in response to the input signal; wherein at least the output means is arranged on a substrate; and wherein a protective layer is arranged to at least cover the substrate and the output means so as to prevent egression of compounds therefrom to the tobacco material or tobacco substitute material within the storage environment. The electronic device includes an appropriately adapted protective layer A user may therefore assess the freshness and quality of a tobacco material within the product, without any risk or altering the properties of the tobacco material via egression from the electronic device to the storage environment.

A product for holding a tobacco material or a tobacco substitute material includes a body defining a storage environment and an electronic device. The electronic device includes an input means to generate an input signal from an external stimulus; an output means to generate an output signal in response to the input signal; wherein at least the output means is arranged on a substrate; and wherein a protective layer is arranged to at least cover the substrate and the output means so as to prevent egression of compounds therefrom to the tobacco material or tobacco substitute material within the storage environment. The electronic device includes an appropriately adapted protective layer A user may therefore assess the freshness and quality of a tobacco material within the product, without any risk or altering the properties of the tobacco material via egression from the electronic device to the storage environment.

The present invention is in the field of tobacco conditioning, which is performed generally after curing and before baling. It has been identified that cured tobacco is very brittle and difficult to handle without damaging the tobacco leaf. In order to address this issue an apparatus for post-curing conditioning of tobacco is provided. The apparatus includes a tobacco chamber for storing cured tobacco leaves for conditioning; and an air processing facility which includes: a ventilation system for creating an airflow through the apparatus, wherein said airflow is drawn into the air processing facility, passes from the air processing facility into the tobacco chamber, and subsequently exits the apparatus; a heater for adding heat to the airflow; and a humidity generator for adding moisture to the airflow.

The present invention is in the field of tobacco conditioning, which is performed generally after curing and before baling. It has been identified that cured tobacco is very brittle and difficult to handle without damaging the tobacco leaf. In order to address this issue an apparatus for post-curing conditioning of tobacco is provided. The apparatus includes a tobacco chamber for storing cured tobacco leaves for conditioning; and an air processing facility which includes: a ventilation system for creating an airflow through the apparatus, wherein said airflow is drawn into the air processing facility, passes from the air processing facility into the tobacco chamber, and subsequently exits the apparatus; a heater for adding heat to the airflow; and a humidity generator for adding moisture to the airflow.

Provided herein is a composition for use in a device for generating an inhalable medium, the composition including (a) 20-40% by weight of air-cured and/or fire-cured tobacco, (b) 0-35% by weight of flue-cured and/or sun-cured tobacco that has not been subjected to any further treatment which affects the flavor properties of tobacco, and (c) 25-80% by weight of flue-cured and/or sun-cured tobacco that has been further treated to enhance the flavor properties of tobacco.

Provided herein is a composition for use in a device for generating an inhalable medium, the composition including (a) 20-40% by weight of air-cured and/or fire-cured tobacco, (b) 0-35% by weight of flue-cured and/or sun-cured tobacco that has not been subjected to any further treatment which affects the flavor properties of tobacco, and (c) 25-80% by weight of flue-cured and/or sun-cured tobacco that has been further treated to enhance the flavor properties of tobacco.

A tobacco material and a process for the treatment of tobacco are provided. The process comprises securing the tobacco material within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of at least about 45 C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m.sup.3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 15.5%. The treated tobacco material has an aerobic plate count of up to about 1000 CFU/g.