Processing sun-cured tobacco

Abstract

A method of processing sun-cured tobacco, comprises harvesting a predetermined amount of whole tobacco plants, and curing the leaves on the whole tobacco plants by exposing them to sunlight, without separating the leaves from the stalk.

1 . A method of processing oriental sun-cured tobacco, comprising:
 harvesting a predetermined amount of whole oriental tobacco plants, and   curing the leaves on the whole oriental tobacco plants by exposing them to sunlight, without separating the leaves from the stalk.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the whole tobacco plants are attached to or supported on a support material. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the support material is a string, wire, rod, pole, stick or similar elongate material upon which the whole tobacco plant can be attached. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the whole tobacco plants are attached to the support material at or through the stalk end of the plant and are hung upside-down on the support material. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein dividers are provided on the support material between the whole tobacco plants. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the leaves of the cured whole tobacco plants are removed from the rest of the plants whilst plants are still attached to or supported by the support material. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the cured whole tobacco plants are stored under a cover that is open to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the cured whole tobacco plants are threshed in a leaf processing facility, in order to separate leaf from stalk material. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the leaves of the tobacco plants are further cut to a width of between 0.3 to 1.3 mm, in order to create cut leaf ready for use in a smoking article. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the whole tobacco plants are attached to the support material at or through the stalk end of the plant and are hung upside-down on the support material. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising the curing the supported whole tobacco plants to form a cured whole tobacco plant. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the curing comprises exposing the whole tobacco plants to sunlight for a period of about ten to twenty days. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising bailing the cured whole tobacco plant to form a bail of cured whole tobacco plants. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  further comprising conditioning the bail of cured whole tobacco plants, wherein the conditioning comprises steam or water to provide a conditioned cured whole tobacco plant material having greater than 18% O.V. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  further comprising threshing the conditioned cured whole tobacco plant material to separate the leaf material from the stalk and stem material. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising drying the leaf material to form a dried leaf material. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the drying comprises drying the leaf material to a predetermined moisture level below 12% O.V. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising cutting the dried leaf material to a width of between 0.3 to 1.3 mm, in order to create cut leaf ready for use in a smoking article. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising cutting the dried leaf material to a width of between 0.8 to 0.9 mm, in order to create cut leaf ready for use in a smoking article. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising separating the tobacco leaves from the stalk of the cured whole tobacco plant.