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.

Abstract: A tobacco treating process for forming favorable flavor compounds in a moisturized tobacco including the steps of 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 and reducing sugars, and/or other tobacco components; and cooling and removing the tobacco from the closed zone.

Abstract: An improved tobacco treating process for smoking articles including the steps of introducing tobacco to be dryed into a restricted pressure and flow controllable system to be entrained by pressurized stream for preselected residence time before disentrainment therefrom, the steam being held at preselected minimum pressure and velocity to improve fill value and smoking quality of the tobacco.

Abstract: An improved tobacco treating process for smoking articles including the steps of applying an ammonia source to tobacco to be dryed, passing the ammonia treated tobacco in a restricted pressure and flow controllable system to be entrained by pressurized steam for a preselected residence time before disentrainment therefrom, the steam being held at preselected minimum pressure and velocity to improve flavor quality and fill value of the tobacco.