The invention discloses a high-yield integrated production method for cigar wrappers. This method builds a four in one production facility system that integrates seedling cultivation, transplanting, drying, and fermentation processes of cigar wrapper tobacco leaves. The system has a light intensity of 75-160 umol/(m.sup.2.Math.s), a temperature of 255 C. and a relative air humidity of 75%10%; when transplanting tobacco seedlings, using a nutrient solution, which is a high iron boron nutrient solution with an iron content of 0.3-0.7 mM calculated as Fe and a boron content of 9.5-13.0 mg/L calculated as boric acid. The invention achieves a cigar shell yield of over 65%, a 40% reduction in production facility investment, and a 20% reduction in labor force by accurately regulating the production environment and the supply of growth factors such as nutrients and light.

The invention discloses a high-yield integrated production method for cigar wrappers. This method builds a four in one production facility system that integrates seedling cultivation, transplanting, drying, and fermentation processes of cigar wrapper tobacco leaves. The system has a light intensity of 75-160 umol/(m.sup.2.Math.s), a temperature of 255 C. and a relative air humidity of 75%10%; when transplanting tobacco seedlings, using a nutrient solution, which is a high iron boron nutrient solution with an iron content of 0.3-0.7 mM calculated as Fe and a boron content of 9.5-13.0 mg/L calculated as boric acid. The invention achieves a cigar shell yield of over 65%, a 40% reduction in production facility investment, and a 20% reduction in labor force by accurately regulating the production environment and the supply of growth factors such as nutrients and light.

A method of treating tobacco is disclosed. It comprises a first conditioning step wherein the moisture content of the tobacco is increased to a first level, and a second separate conditioning step wherein the pH of the tobacco is increased to at least pH 7.

A method of treating tobacco is disclosed. It comprises a first conditioning step wherein the moisture content of the tobacco is increased to a first level, and a second separate conditioning step wherein the pH of the tobacco is increased to at least pH 7.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a tobacco raw material in which the green color of the tobacco raw material is maintained and a browning-involved enzyme included in tobacco leaves is deactivated. Specifically, a method of manufacturing a tobacco raw material is provided that includes a step for heating a tobacco leaf material, which has an a* value of 1.0 or less, the a* value being expressed by the L*a*b* method, and which has a moisture content of 8 wt % or less, at a temperature of 75 C. or higher and under a humidity-controlled environment so that the a* value is 1.0 or less and the content of the browning-involved enzyme is 0.1 U/g or less.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a tobacco raw material in which the green color of the tobacco raw material is maintained and a browning-involved enzyme included in tobacco leaves is deactivated. Specifically, a method of manufacturing a tobacco raw material is provided that includes a step for heating a tobacco leaf material, which has an a* value of 1.0 or less, the a* value being expressed by the L*a*b* method, and which has a moisture content of 8 wt % or less, at a temperature of 75 C. or higher and under a humidity-controlled environment so that the a* value is 1.0 or less and the content of the browning-involved enzyme is 0.1 U/g or less.

A hanging drying rack comprises a plurality of rectangular trays arrayed in a vertical column having a mesh bottom with a fastened section secured within each bottom. Lengths of cord secure the trays at each respective common corner. Each end of each cord is secured at a common point suprajacent the upper most tray. The drying rack is particularly suited for drying herbaceous material.

A hanging drying rack comprises a plurality of rectangular trays arrayed in a vertical column having a mesh bottom with a fastened section secured within each bottom. Lengths of cord secure the trays at each respective common corner. Each end of each cord is secured at a common point suprajacent the upper most tray. The drying rack is particularly suited for drying herbaceous material.

A process is provided for the treatment of tobacco. The process comprises securing the tobacco within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of above 55 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 23%. The treated tobacco may have desirable organoleptic properties.

A process is provided for the treatment of tobacco. The process comprises securing the tobacco within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of above 55 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 23%. The treated tobacco may have desirable organoleptic properties.