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Whether it’s for smoking, for ceremonial use, or for an insect repellent solution, there are many reasons to dry, or air-cure, your own tobacco leaves. Drying tobacco is a kind of curing process that takes between 3 and 8 weeks to properly prepare the tobacco for use. This method of curing will produce tobacco leaves that are, relative to other curing methods, low in sugar, high in nicotine, and sweet in flavor!
Steps
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Dry tobacco in the fall for the best results. The warm, dry days and cool, relatively humid nights of the late summer and early fall provide the perfect conditions for drying tobacco leaves.
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Pick leaves that are a pale-yellow for drying. Tobacco leaves that are too green will dry green, which you want to avoid. Typically the lower leaves on the plant will turn yellow sooner, so take those first for drying. [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Find a well-ventilated shelter for drying, typically a barn or shed. The leaves need to be protected from direct sunlight, rain, and wind for drying. A barn, shed, or garage would work well for this. You could even dry the leaves in your home, as long as you have the space -- just be sure the air isn’t too dry. [2] X Research source
- Find a shelter where you’ll have some control over the humidity by opening or closing doors, windows, or vents. You’ll need to keep the humidity relatively high to keep the leaves from drying too quickly. [3] X Research source
- Be sure the leaves are protected from direct sunlight, which may burn them. [4] X Research source
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Hang your tobacco in bunches of 3 to 5 leaves. Fasten the leaves to a clothesline or rope, bunched together at the stem and tied with a strong rubber band that will contract as the leaves shrink. If you’re only drying a few leaves, another method is to thread individual stems and hang the leaves from a string. [5] X Research source
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Control the humidity as your leaves dry. In cooler periods, open the doors of the barn or shed during the day to bring in the relatively warmer outside air. In warmer periods, and if your leaves are drying too fast, close the doors during the daytime hours and open them at night to bring in the moist night air.
- You may need to use a humidifier if your leaves are drying too quickly. [6] X Research source
- If you dry your tobacco in your home, be sure to mind the temperature and humidity to avoid drying the leaves too quickly. An air-conditioned home would probably be too dry for air-curing tobacco.
- Leaves that dry too fast may remain green.
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Monitor the leaves to know when they’ve dried enough. As they dry, the leaves will turn yellow, then a kind of orange, and finally brown. (The shades will vary somewhat depending on the kind of tobacco leaves you’re using.) Depending on environmental conditions, the process will take between 3 and 8 weeks. [7] X Research source
- When the leaves are brown and the edges have curled slightly, the process is complete. [8] X Research source
- The dried leaves will be slightly sticky, and they’ll have the feeling of very thin leather. They should still be pliable, not brittle. [9] X Research source
- The dried leaves should have a slightly sweet smell from the curing process. [10] X Research source
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Remove the stems from the leaves. When the tobacco is ready, carefully peel the leaf away from its stem. You may use it immediately or store it if you want to use it later or let it continue to ferment. [11] X Research source
- Stems retain moisture and may increase the chance of mold in storage. [12] X Research source
- Tobacco leaves are ready for smoking or storage when they’re brown and pliable, but not too brittle. If the leaves get too brittle, you can moisten them with water from a spray bottle. Almost magically, they’ll regain their pliability with a little moisture.
- You can store the leaves in a humidor or even in a plastic bag. If you’ve moistened brittle leaves for storage, be sure to pat them down with a paper towel so there aren’t any water droplets on them. This will keep the leaves moist but reduce the chance of mold developing while they’re in storage. [13] X Research source
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
References
- ↑ https://ctri.icar.gov.in/for_curing.php
- ↑ https://www.leafonly.com/tobacco-harvesting-curing-fermenting.php
- ↑ https://ctri.icar.gov.in/for_curing.php
- ↑ https://ictnews.org/archive/how-to-grow-and-cure-your-own-tobacco-for-ceremonial-use?redir=1
- ↑ https://ctri.icar.gov.in/for_curing.php
- ↑ https://ctri.icar.gov.in/for_curing.php
- ↑ https://www.uky.edu/Ag/TobaccoProd/FactSheets/PDF/Fact%20Sheet%204-09.pdf
- ↑ https://www.uky.edu/Ag/TobaccoProd/FactSheets/PDF/Fact%20Sheet%204-09.pdf
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKduAMF-lWk
About This Article
To dry tobacco leaves, also known as "curing" the leaves, first pick the leaves off of your tobacco plant by hand. Cut a thin slit through the center of the stem on each leaf using a utility knife. Then, thread a string through the slits. Spread the leaves out so they're at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart to give them plenty of space to dry. Hang the leaves somewhere dry and warm, like a garage or attic. Set up a dehumidifier if you don't have a dry spot to store the leaves in so they dry faster and don't develop mold. It should take about 4-8 weeks for the leaves to dry out entirely, but it may take longer depending on the variety of tobacco and your climate. Monitor the leaves periodically to make sure they don’t turn moldy, and remove any leaves that do. You'll know they're ready for use when they’ve turned dark brown and the edges of each leaf are curled. Remove the leaves and tear them off of the stems before storing or using your tobacco. For tips on how to separate the tobacco from the stem when the leaves are dry, read on!
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