How to Process Tobacco Leaves

Harvest the tobacco plants. There are two different methods. One way is to cut the tobacco plant at the root. Use a curved knife. Another harvesting process is to pull the leaves from the plant. The average tobacco plant has 17 leaves. Tobacco leaves mature from the ground upwards. Remove leaves from a single plant as they ripen. It is best to pick the leaves two or three at a time. To achieve rewarding results, wait for the leaves to reach perfect maturity. Knowing when to pick tobacco leaves requires experience and expertise with the specific type of tobacco being grown. Generally, the leaf should yellow or slightly brown before it is harvested.

Dry the leaves to remove any toxic substances. This makes the final product suitable for burning. Separate the leaves according to density, size, texture and color. For proper fermentation, stack the leaves on top of each other. Store them in a dry, non-humid building or in a drying chamber, which can be built or purchased. Combine heat of a constant 130 degrees Fahrenheit and shade when drying tobacco. This reduces water and sugar levels in the leaves. Lightly mist the leaves to keep them at the proper moisture level or set up a standard humidifier. When tobacco turns brown, it is ready to be processed. Depending on climate conditions, curing the leaves takes up to 48 days to complete. Drying tobacco excessively results in loss of flavor and quality. The exact temperature and moisture needed with vary and growers often experiment to achieve various results to the flavor of the tobacco.

Allow tobacco to age properly. Tobacco matures slowly, and is dependent of its surroundings. Mixing any aromatic substances at this stage as this allows enrichment of flavor in the final product. Inspect the leaves according to quality, and sort them. The leaf should be whole and the stem solid. Handle the leaves carefully during the sorting process. Use only the highest quality leaves.