US Patent 7320326 Method for the treatment of tobacco

In a process for the treatment of tobacco, in particular Burley tobacco, the tobacco, which is preferably in the form of leaf tobacco, is treated with a casing, which preferably contains sugar. A thermal treatment of the casing-treated tobacco with saturated steam follows, wherein, before the steam treatment, the tobacco moisture content is in the range from 15% to 25% and wherein, after the steam treatment, the tobacco moisture content is in the range from 15% to 25% and the tobacco temperature is in the range from 80° C. to 115° C.