Hybrid air and fire curing combination process to reduce harmful and potentially harmful constituents in cured tobacco

Abstract

The present specification provides for and includes novel methods of curing tobacco to produce desirable smoke and flavor characteristics while reducing the undesirable compounds imparted during a conventional fire-curing process. The present specification provides for and includes cured tobacco having reduced polyaromatic hydrocarbons and TSNA as compared to conventionally fire-cured tobacco. Also provided are tobacco products made with tobacco leaf cured using the disclosed processes.

1 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A method for curing tobacco leaves comprising:
 a. subjecting a tobacco leaf to air curing; and   b. applying one or more smoke finish attributes to the air cured leaf to generate an air/fire combination cured tobacco leaf.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said air curing is for a duration of between 30 days and 100 days. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said one or more smoke finish attributes comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of Syringol, Maltol, and Furfural. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said air/fire combination cured tobacco leaf comprises a similar amount of phenolic acid compounds compared to a tobacco leaf grown under similar growth conditions and cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said air/fire combination cured tobacco leaf comprises a significant reduction of at least one harmful and potentially harmful constituent (HPHC) compared to a tobacco leaf grown under similar growth conditions and cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the amount of N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), the amount of 4-methylnitrosoamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), or the amount of both are reduced in comparison to a tobacco leaf grown under similar growth conditions and cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said controlled smoke process is selected from the group consisting of open flame combustion, smoldering combustion, cold smoke generation, wood smoke generator, and any method known in the art that produces smoke without combustion. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said tobacco leaf is selected from the group consisting of a burley tobacco leaf, an oriental tobacco leaf, a dark tobacco leaf, and a bright tobacco leaf. 
     
     
         68 . An air/fire combination cured tobacco leaf comprising one or more smoke finish attributes and a lower amount of NNN, NNK, or both, as compared to a control cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         69 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 68 , wherein said cured tobacco leaf further comprises a significant reduction of at least one HPHC. 
     
     
         70 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 68 , wherein cured tobacco leaf further comprises a similar amount of phenolic acid compounds compared to a traditional fire curing process. 
     
     
         71 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 68 , wherein said cured tobacco leaf further comprises an amount of NNN reduced by at least 1 part per million in comparison to said cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         72 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 68 , wherein said cured tobacco leaf further comprises an amount of NNK reduced by at least 0.2 parts per million in comparison to said cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         73 . An air/fire combination cured tobacco leaf comprising one or more smoke finish attributes and lower amounts of one or more polyaromatic hydrocarbons as compared to a control cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         74 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 73 , wherein the amount of Benzo[a]pyrene is reduced by at least 150 ppm in comparison to said cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured under a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         75 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 73 , wherein said cured tobacco leaf further comprises an amount of NNN reduced by at least 1 part per million as compared to said cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         76 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 73 , wherein said cured tobacco leaf further comprises an amount of NNK reduced by at least 0.2 parts per million as compared to said cured leaf of a tobacco plant cured using a conventional fire-curing process. 
     
     
         77 . The cured tobacco leaf of  claim 73 , wherein said cured tobacco leaf further comprises a similar amount of phenolic acid compounds compared to a traditional fire curing process. 
     
     
         78 . A tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco leaf of  claim 68 . 
     
     
         79 . A tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco leaf of  claim 73 .