Abstract: In order to moisten bunched tobacco leaves without disarranging the leaves, the bunch, possibly after having been exposed to warm steam, is suspended with the strapped neck portion pointing upwards. After inversion, the neck and adjacent portion of the bunch is immersed in a moistening liquid, and subsequently the bunch is re-inversed and subjected to an oscillatory shaking movement, thereby causing the tobacco leaves to rub against one another to promote the liquid penetration. After setting, the bunches are again subjected to shaking for loosening of the leaves which are fully cut free at the neck portion while maintained as an orderly stack of substantially smooth leaves ready for further processing.