Главная страница » Burley Tobacco Drying

Burley Tobacco Drying

Close-up of Burley tobacco leaves during the drying process

Burley tobacco drying is a fascinating process that combines tradition, science, and a touch of artistry. This process, steeped in history and refined by modern techniques, is crucial in defining the unique characteristics of Burley tobacco. From the careful harvesting of the leaves to the meticulous attention to temperature and humidity during drying, each step is designed to preserve and enhance the unique properties of this sought-after tobacco variety .

What is Burley Tobacco?

Burley tobacco is a popular variety of tobacco known for its light, airy texture and mild flavor. It’s a key component in many types of tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco.

The Importance of Burley Tobacco

Burley tobacco’s unique characteristics make it a valuable commodity in the tobacco industry. Its ability to absorb flavors and its slow burn rate make it an ideal choice for blending with other tobacco varieties.

Harvesting Burley Tobacco

The process of Burley tobacco drying begins with the harvesting of the tobacco leaves. This is typically done by hand to ensure the leaves are not damaged, which could affect the quality of the final product.

Preparing for Drying

Once harvested, the leaves are prepared for drying. This involves arranging the leaves in a way that allows air to circulate around them, promoting even drying.

The Drying Process

The actual drying process involves hanging the leaves in a controlled environment where temperature and humidity levels can be carefully managed. This process can take several weeks to complete.

Role of Temperature and Humidity

Temperature and humidity play a crucial role in the drying process. Too much heat can cause the leaves to dry too quickly, while too much humidity can lead to mold growth. The goal is to strike a balance that allows the leaves to dry slowly and evenly.

The Transformation of Burley Tobacco During Drying

As the leaves dry, they undergo a transformation. They change color from green to a rich, golden brown, and their flavor and aroma develop and intensify.

Traditional Techniques

Traditional drying techniques involve hanging the leaves in a barn where the temperature and humidity are controlled naturally through ventilation.

Modern Innovations

Modern innovations in drying technology allow for more precise control over the drying environment. This can result in a more consistent product with a higher quality.

Flavor and Aroma

The drying process has a significant impact on the flavor and aroma of Burley tobacco. It brings out the tobacco’s natural sweetness and gives it a distinctive, rich flavor.

Texture and Burn Rate

Drying also affects the texture and burn rate of the tobacco. Properly dried Burley tobacco has a light, airy texture and burns slowly and evenly.

What are the steps involved in the Burley tobacco drying process?

The Burley tobacco drying process involves several steps, each crucial to the final quality of the tobacco. Here are the steps involved:

  1. Harvesting and Scheduling: The first step in the process is the harvesting of the Burley tobacco. The tobacco should be allowed to ripen until nearly all of the upper leaves show a distinct yellow-green color. This usually occurs between three and five weeks after topping, depending on the variety and environmental conditions. Harvesting should ideally be scheduled when at least a few days of fair weather are expected .
  2. Preparation for Drying: After harvesting, the tobacco is prepared for drying. Sticks of green-cut tobacco are most often allowed to field-wilt for three or four days prior to hanging in a barn .
  3. Temperature and Humidity Control: The ideal environment for curing Burley tobacco requires temperatures from 65 to 90 .F, and relative air humidity ranging from 65 to 70%. These conditions are crucial for the proper drying of the tobacco .
  4. Air Circulation: Airflow is a key factor in the drying process. A good Burley barn has ? to 1/3 of the sidewall as ventilator openings. The tobacco should not dry too fast, and during dry conditions, the drying process can be slowed by controlling the ventilation openings in the barn .
  5. Curing Duration: The tobacco is allowed to air-cure for eight or more weeks, turning from the normal pale green to yellow and then to brown. The curing process involves the tobacco undergoing a drying process as it exchanges moisture with the ambient air until the moisture content of the leaf is in equilibrium with the relative humidity of the ambient air .
  6. Flavor Development: During the curing process, the flavor and aroma of the tobacco develop and intensify. The sugar in the tobacco is broken down, so at the end, the Burley has only slight traces, or in most cases, no sugar at all. This lack of sweetness gives Burley its distinctive, rich flavor .

How long does it take to dry Burley tobacco?

The drying process for Burley tobacco typically takes between four to eight weeks . However, this can vary depending on the specific conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and air circulation, in the drying environment . It’s also important to note that even after the initial color-curing phase, the tobacco often remains fairly raw for at least a couple of months and may require about a year of just hanging to lose the rawness .

What are some common challenges faced during the Burley tobacco drying process?

Details: The Burley tobacco drying process can face several challenges, including:

  1. Improper Handling and Inadequate Housing: Many fine crops are injured by improper handling, inadequate housing, and lack of control over curing conditions .
  2. Poor Harvesting Conditions: The harvested leaves are very fragile, and the slightest contusions or too long waiting in the field will have repercussions during curing .
  3. Poor Quality of Leaves at Harvest: Leaves suffer from bad weather (droughts, floods) and agronomic (nitrogen excess, hardpan) conditions during the growth of the plants. So, the leaves with their modified chemical, structural, or other characteristics, cure satisfactorily and only quite late reveal lesions introduced in the field .
  4. Poor Curing and Storage Management of Tobacco: Inadequate management during the curing and storage process can lead to various issues, including mold growth and uneven drying .
  5. Unfavorable Weather Conditions: The curing of burley tobacco depends particularly on the proper control of relative humidity. Unfavorable weather conditions can make it challenging to maintain the ideal humidity levels for curing .
  6. Mold Issues: In some cases, the stems of the tobacco leaves can develop mold if the drying process takes too long or if the humidity levels are not properly managed .

Conclusion

Burley tobacco drying is a complex process that combines science, art, and tradition. It plays a crucial role in determining the quality of the final product, affecting everything from the flavor and aroma to the texture and burn rate of the tobacco.

Burley tobacco drying is a complex process that involves both physical and biochemical changes. The freshly cut tobacco, which is about 85% moisture, dries to about 15% moisture. The environmental factors that affect the drying of burley tobacco include temperature, relative humidity, and air flow. The ideal conditions for good quality burley tobacco are a temperature range of 65 – 90 .F, relative humidity of 65 to 70%, and an air velocity of 15 ft/min .

Statistics:

The amortized value of construction cost and labor for facilities used in burley tobacco drying over their useful life is estimated at approximately 8 to 12 cents per pound of cured tobacco .

FAQs:

  1. What is Burley Tobacco? Burley tobacco is a popular variety of tobacco known for its light, airy texture and mild flavor. It’s a key component in many types of tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco .
  2. How is Burley Tobacco dried? The drying process involves hanging the leaves in a controlled environment where temperature and humidity levels can be carefully managed. This process can take several weeks to complete .
  3. What are the ideal conditions for drying Burley Tobacco? The ideal conditions for good quality burley tobacco are a temperature range of 65 – 90 .F, relative humidity of 65 to 70%, and an air velocity of 15 ft/min .
  4. What happens to Burley Tobacco during the drying process? As the leaves dry, they undergo a transformation. They change color from green to a rich, golden brown, and their flavor and aroma develop and intensify .
  5. What is the impact of the drying process on the quality of Burley Tobacco? The drying process has a significant impact on the flavor and aroma of Burley tobacco. It brings out the tobacco’s natural sweetness and gives it a distinctive, rich flavor .
  6. What are the traditional techniques of drying Burley Tobacco? Traditional drying techniques involve hanging the leaves in a barn where the temperature and humidity are controlled naturally through ventilation .
  7. What are the modern innovations in drying Burley Tobacco? Modern innovations in drying technology allow for more precise control over the drying environment. This can result in a more consistent product with a higher quality .
  8. How does the drying process affect the texture and burn rate of Burley Tobacco? Drying also affects the texture and burn rate of the tobacco. Properly dried Burley tobacco has a light, airy texture and burns slowly and evenly .
  9. What are the challenges faced in Burley Tobacco drying? Challenges in Burley tobacco drying include managing the moisture levels and air circulation inside the barn or curing structure, especially in years with unfavorable climatic conditions .
  10. What is the impact of weather on the production of Burley Tobacco? Weather plays a significant role in the production of Burley tobacco. The curing of burley tobacco depends particularly on the proper control of relative humidity .

Books:

  1. “Burley: Kentucky Tobacco in a New Century (Kentucky Remembered)” by Ann K. Ferrell. This book investigates the rapidly transforming process of raising and selling tobacco by chronicling her conversations with the farmers who know the crop best .
  2. “A History of Burley Tobacco in East Tennessee & Western North Carolina” (Paperback/Hardcover). This book provides a comprehensive history of Burley tobacco in these regions .

Sources of information:

  1. BURLEY CURING TECHNOLOGY https://burleytobaccoextension.ca.uky.edu/files/aeu-93_burley_curing_technology.pdf
  2. Facilities and Curing – ID-160: Burley and Dark Tobacco Production Guide, 2019-2020 – University of Kentucky https://burleytobaccoextension.ca.uky.edu/files/facilities_and_curing_id160_2019.pdf
  3. Curing burley question | Fair Trade Tobacco – How to grow, cure and process tobacco https://fairtradetobacco.com/threads/curing-burley-question.4400/
  4. Burley: Kentucky Tobacco in a New Century (Kentucky Remembered) – Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Burley-Kentucky-Tobacco-Century-Remembered/dp/0813167582
  5. Burley Tobacco Curing Advisory https://burleytobaccoextension.ca.uky.edu/files/fact_sheet_4-09.pdf
  6. Weather and the Production of Burley Tobacco – American Meteorological Society https://journals.ametsoc.org/downloadpdf/journals/bams/38/2/1520-0477-38_2_52.pdf
  7. Curing (Learn) – ProfiGen https://profigen.com.br/informacoes/aprenda-a-cultivar/curing-147
  8. Burley – The University Press of Kentucky https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813142333/burley
  9. Tobacco curing | PMI – Philip Morris International https://www.pmi.com/glossary-section/glossary/tobacco-curing
  10. INVESTIGATIONS ON CURING BURLEY TOBACCO WITH ARTIFICIAL AIDS – Canadian Science Publishing https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjps59-041
  11. Burley Tobacco – RMA (usda.gov) https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Fact-Sheets/Jackson-Regional-Office-Fact-Sheets/Burley-Tobacco-2018-KY-TN
  12. Curing & Grading | CTRI,Rajahmundry – ICAR https://ctri.icar.gov.in/for_curing.php

Citations:

  1. AEU-93 BURLEY CURING TECHNOLOGY1 Curing is the sum-total of the physical and biochemical processes that convert burley tobacco from the yellowish-green high moisture leaf at harvest to … These environmental factors affect the drying of burley tobacco; temperature, relative humidity, and air flow https://burleytobaccoextension.ca.uky.edu/files/aeu-93_burley_curing_technology.pdf.
  2. Burley tobacco cured with good management practices on outdoor curing structures has been shown to have cured leaf quality equivalent to burley cured in traditional barns in most curing seasons https://burleytobaccoextension.ca.uky.edu/files/facilities_and_curing_id160_2019.pdf.
  3. The ideal environment for curing Burley tobacco requires temperatures from 18.F to 32.F, and relative air humidity ranging from 65 to 70% https://profigen.com.br/informacoes/aprenda-a-cultivar/curing-147.
  4. Burley tobacco is air-cured by hanging the leaves in well-ventilated barns, and the tobacco is allowed to dry over a period between four to eight weeks https://www.pmi.com/glossary-section/glossary/tobacco-curing.
  5. The curing of burley tobacco depends particularly on the proper control of relative humidity https://journals.ametsoc.org/downloadpdf/journals/bams/38/2/1520-0477-38_2_52.pdf.