Cookies We use cookies to remember your preferences and provide you with the very best experience on our website. Please click the button to approve our use of cookies. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings at any time. Allow all cookies Change your cookie settings Contact us Home | About tobacco | Our company | Brands | How we do business | Careers | Media You are here: Home About tobacco Tobacco leaf Print Email About tobacco History of tobacco Tobacco leaf Manufacturing Tobacco Leaf From farmer to finished product Tobacco leaf undergoes a number of processes before it finally becomes a cigarette, rolling tobacco or another tobacco product, such as snus Directly after harvesting the leaves are cured. This removes the moisture from them and plays a fundamental role in giving tobacco its flavor and aroma. It also turns the color of the leaves from green to yellow or brown, as the chlorophyll in them breaks down and the natural starches found in the tobacco plant turn to sugars. The leaf growers There are three main ways of drying and curing cigarette tobacco: Air curing – burley – in unheated enclosed areas Flue curing – virginia – in a barn heated by pipes Sun curing – oriental – where the leaves are left to dry in the sun While ‘drying’ may seem like a basic process, the end result is open to infinite variety, reflecting the weather and nutrients in the soil during growing, individual skill and expertise, as well as the type of drying process used. So after curing, the leaves are graded to reflect their quality. Leaf grading This grading is important because leaves from many different sources may be blended to create a particular tobacco brand. As with grapes used in wine making, while the quality and characteristics can vary with each harvest, consumers demand consistency of taste, colour and bouquet. In fact, it can be argued that the tobacco producer’s role can be even more challenging as, unlike wine, consumers do not expect or want any variance from year to year. Blending The cured leaves are aged before going into the manufacturing stage. Here the tobacco is cut, conditioned and blended. Trading Tobacco leaves are traded as a commodity around the world. Increasingly, countries are moving from traditional trading floors, where the price is decided by auction, to contract-based systems, where buyers establish contracts with individual farmers to purchase their leaf. One thing that remains constant is the level of expertise required in buying the right amount of tobacco of the right quality to satisfy consumer demand. Leaf-buying companies are the link between growers and tobacco product manufacturers such as JTI. However, for part of its requirements JTI also acts as a leaf-buyer. This means that as well as purchasing directly on the auction floor, we are also establishing farmer contracts in a number of countries, including Brazil, Malawi, Zambia and the United States. Related links Manufacturing tobacco products JTI’s Global Supply Chain More about our tobacco products The history of our brands Our position on: Snus What's in our products In focus Managing our brands Read the full story A growing reforestation program Read the full story Brazil The world’s second largest tobacco leaf producer. The largest producer is China About tobacco History of tobacco Tobacco leaf Manufacturing Our company JTI at a glance Facts & figures Innovation Leadership Where we operate Operations History Smoking lounges Brands Global Flagship Brands Products How we do business Our principles Smoking and health Regulation of tobacco products Key regulatory submissions What's in our products Anti-illicit trade Working to end child labor Business culture Corporate social responsibility Responsible procurement Code of conduct Careers Why work for us? Career areas Meet our people Jobs at JTI Media Information for journalists Information for investors News releases © Copyright JT International SA 2012. All Rights reserved Terms & conditions|Privacy & legal|Cookies|Accessibility|Contact us|Sitemap