Abstract: A tobacco treating process for forming favorable flavor compounds in a moisturized tobacco including the steps of contacting the tobacco with citrus pectin, invert sugar, or diammonium phosphate, or a combination resulting in a tobacco having a pectin level and diammonium phosphate level of predetermined percentages, thereof, introducing the moistened tobacco into a containing zone; introducing an ammonia source into the containing zone; heating the contained zone when substantially closed to bring the tobacco to a preselected temperature to improve flavor compounds through reaction of the ammonia source, citrus pectin, and reducing sugars, and/or other tobacco components; and cooling and removing the tobacco from the closed zone.