Method of treating burley tobacco stems

Abstract

A method of treating Burley tobacco stems for use in tobacco cut filler comprises the steps of: providing rolled Burley tobacco stems having a rolled thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 mm; conditioning the rolled stems to increase the moisture content; applying a casing solution to the rolled, conditioned stems; heating the rolled stems with the casing solution applied; re-conditioning the stems after heating to increase the moisture content; cutting the tobacco stems from step; and drying the cut rolled stems. The rolled Burley tobacco stems may be combined with tobacco lamina prior to the treatment steps.

1 . A method of treating Burley tobacco stems for use in tobacco cut filler, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing rolled Burley tobacco stems having a rolled thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 mm;   conditioning the rolled stems;   applying a casing solution to the rolled, conditioned stems;   heating the rolled stems with the casing solution applied;   re-conditioning the stems after heating;   cutting the re-conditioned tobacco stems; and   drying the cut rolled stems.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the rolled Burley tobacco stems are combined with Burley tobacco lamina prior to the conditioning step such that all of the subsequent steps are carried out on the combined Burley tobacco stems and lamina. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein during the conditioning step a moisture content of the Burley tobacco stems is increased to at least 15% oven volatiles (o.v.). 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein during the re-conditioning step a moisture content of the Burley tobacco stems is increased to at least 20% o.v. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the conditioning and reconditioning steps comprises contacting the tobacco with steam, water or a mixture of steam and water. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein during the heating step the Burley tobacco stems are heated to a temperature of at least 50° C. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the cutting step comprises cutting the rolled Burley stems to a cut width of between 0.3 mm and 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the additional steps of:
 removing the stems from the Burley tobacco leaf; 
 cutting the stems to an average length of between 15 mm and 80 mm; 
 conditioning the stems to increase moisture content; and 
 rolling the stems to a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, 
 
       wherein the additional steps are carried out prior to the steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the conditioning of the stems increases the moisture content to 35% o.v. or less. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing cut filler comprising rolled Burley tobacco stems, the method comprising:
 treating Burley stems using a method according to  claim 1 ; and   blending the treated Burley stems with at least one type of tobacco lamina, expanded tobacco or reconstituted tobacco to produce cut filler.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein during the conditioning step a moisture content of the Burley tobacco stems is increased to at least 15% oven volatiles (o.v.). 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein during the re-conditioning step a moisture content of the Burley tobacco stems is increased to at least 20% o.v. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein during the conditioning step a moisture content of the Burley tobacco stems is increased to at least 15% oven volatiles (o.v.) and wherein during the re-conditioning step a moisture content of the Burley tobacco stems is increased to at least 20% o.v. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein each of the conditioning and reconditioning steps comprises contacting the tobacco with steam, water or a mixture of steam and water. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein during the heating step the Burley tobacco stems are heated to a temperature of at least 50° C. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the cutting step comprises cutting the rolled Burley stems to a cut width of between 0.3 mm and 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A method according  claim 2  further comprising the additional steps of:
 removing the stems from the Burley tobacco leaf; 
 cutting the stems to an average length of between 15 mm and 80 mm; 
 conditioning the stems to increase the moisture content; and 
 rolling the stems to a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, 
 
       wherein the additional steps are carried out prior to the steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the conditioning of the stems increases the moisture content to 35% o.v. or less. 
     
     
         19 . A method of producing cut filler comprising rolled Burley tobacco stems, the method comprising:
 treating Burley stems using a method according to  claim 2 ; and   blending the treated Burley stems with at least one type of tobacco lamina, expanded tobacco or reconstituted tobacco to produce cut filler.   
     
     
         20 . A method of producing cut filler comprising rolled Burley tobacco stems, the method comprising:
 treating Burley stems using a method according to  claim 8 ; and   blending the treated Burley stems with at least one type of tobacco lamina, expanded tobacco or reconstituted tobacco to produce cut filler.