Abstract: Apparatus for puffing, drying or moisturizing tobacco has a conveyor defining an elongated channel with an inlet and an outlet for particles of tobacco. The conveyor is vibrated so that the particles advance toward the outlet, and the bottom wall of the conveyor has orifices which serve to discharge jets of hot air or steam into the channel in such orientation that the jets of admitted fluid medium are inclined to each other, to the direction of advancement of tobacco particles and/or to the vertical. The orifices receive fluid from a chamber which is provided beneath the bottom wall and is connected to a source of steam or hot air.

Abstract: Fragments of tobacco ribs are puffed in an elongated tunnel which is vibrated to advance the particles from the inlet toward the outlet. The particles in the tunnel are contacted by streamlets of supersaturated or superheated steam at such temperature and pressure that the temperature of the particles is raised to between 100.5.degree. and 120.degree. C. To this end, steam is admitted at 2.5 to 25 bar absolute pressure and at a temperature of between 126.degree. and 400.degree. C. The thus heated particles of tobacco ribs are thereupon dried.