Tool to sort, string and cure tobacco leaves simplifies the process of curing, by direct sorting of the leaves into the case/form (9) during harvest process, the leaves are picked with the bottom connected bars and the tool and the hangers (8) can be hanged together on places where the curing process can be done. The tobacco leaves stay on the tool, until they get dry. This way the bore and thread part of the leaves will be avoided, with that time and energy will be saved.

Tool to sort, string and cure tobacco leaves simplifies the process of curing, by direct sorting of the leaves into the case/form (9) during harvest process, the leaves are picked with the bottom connected bars and the tool and the hangers (8) can be hanged together on places where the curing process can be done. The tobacco leaves stay on the tool, until they get dry. This way the bore and thread part of the leaves will be avoided, with that time and energy will be saved.

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.

There is provided a basket (10) for receiving, transporting and curing tobacco leaves, the basket having a substantially cuboidal shape, having a base (110), opposing side walls (120, 130) rigidly attached to the base (110), and a back wall (140) rigidly attached to the base (110) and to the side walls (120, 130), the basket (10) being open to the front and to the top.

There is provided a basket (10) for receiving, transporting and curing tobacco leaves, the basket having a substantially cuboidal shape, having a base (110), opposing side walls (120, 130) rigidly attached to the base (110), and a back wall (140) rigidly attached to the base (110) and to the side walls (120, 130), the basket (10) being open to the front and to the top.

A method of preparing a smoke-treated tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of: (i) subjecting a tobacco material to smoke to give a smoke-treated tobacco material with modified taste characteristics; and (ii) incorporating the smoke-treated tobacco material into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a smoke-treated tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be, for example, a moist snuff tobacco product.

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.

Methods of curing tobacco that reduce the levels of TSNAs and/or improve leaf quality are described herein.