Fire-curing

• In this method of curing, the leaves are harvested in such a way that a small portion of stem remains attached to the leaves.
• This is usually done in log or grass barns.
• The usual system of fire-curing is to allow the tobacco to yellow and wilt in the barn without fire up to 7 days.
• Thereafter the bundles are left above the fire or smoke by the help of poles or sticks to maintain the temperature of 32-35oC until yellowing is completed.
• Then the temperature is raised to 51-54oC until the leaves become dry.
• The fires are removed at night. The smoke from the open hard wood fire imparts the characteristic smell and taste to the tobacco leaves desired for chewing and snuff.
• This is because the smoke causes the creosotic substances to be absorbed by the leaves.
• After the smoke treatment, the leaves are fermented in bulks for 3-4 weeks.
• The fermented leaves are then treated with salt water solution for 3-4 days that contributes to the peculiar taste of this type of tobacco.
• Fire-cured tobacco, generally are darker in color and used mostly for pipe tobacco mixtures, snuff and chewing tobacco and has low sugar but high nicotine content.