Patent ID: 8807141

Claim:
A process for producing a steam conditioned tobacco and/or snuff composition comprising: contacting tobacco and/or snuff with a gaseous composition comprising steam in a non-pressurized team preconditioner, wherein the steam is freely vented from the tobacco and/or snuff during said contacting step, wherein the steam raises the temperature of the tobacco and/or snuff to about 215° F. to about 230° F., and wherein the contacting step increases the moisture content of the tobacco and/or snuff, wherein the tobacco and/or snuff has a moisture content of about 5 to about 40 weight percent after said contacting step; heating the steam conditioned tobacco and/or snuff at a moisture content of about 5 to about 40 weight percent in a mechanical extruder, the mechanical extruder having a temperature and conveyance rate effective for providing a pressure of at least about 130 psi; and venting the heated tobacco and/or snuff after attaining a pressure of at least about 130 psi to obtain a conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff.