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How to Dry Tobacco

Drying your tobacco is often the first step in the process of curing tobacco leaves. Once the tobacco is dry, the leaves can be cured, cut and used for rolling in cigarettes, cigars or smoking in a pipe or a hookah. There is no quick option to drying tobacco correctly. This process can take several days or even weeks depending on the drying conditions. Some trial and error could be involved to finding the right system to meet your needs and climate.

Things You'll Need

String or twine
Tub or box
Plastic container with lid
Paper towel
Brown paper bag
Rope

Instructions

Outdoor Drying
- 1
  Find a location outdoors that will allow your tobacco to dry naturally without being damaged. For example, direct sunlight could burn your leaves. Exposure to pesticides could affect them as well. Best locations are in a place where they can be hung, such as over a doorway or in a breezeway, but not in direct light.
- 2
  Suspend tobacco leaves from the stem by tying them to a piece of string or twine. Place an empty tub or box beneath the leaves to catch any fallen leaves.
- 3
  Allow the tobacco to dry for several days.
Indoor Drying
- 4
  Place the tobacco leaves in a plastic container with a sealable lid. Cover the leaves with a paper towel before covering with the lid and locking in place. This paper towel will control the humidity to help your tobacco to dry evenly.
- 5
  Set the container in a room temperature environment away from direct sunlight. Allow the tobacco to dry for several days. A moderately humid room is preferred. Too dry, and the tobacco will dry out too rapidly or unevenly.
- 6
  Place the tobacco leaves in a brown paper bag, stem side up. Tie off the opening of the bag with rope to suspend the tobacco inside the bag. Hang the bag in a door frame to allow the tobacco to dry.

Cigar Collecting