There are many reasons to dry or air cure your own tobacco leaves.The curing process for drying tobacco takes between 3 and 8 weeks.Compared to other curing methods, this method produces tobacco leaves that are low in sugar, high in nicotine, and sweet in flavor.
Step 1: For the best results, use dry tobacco in the fall.
Tobacco leaves can be dried on warm, dry days and cool nights of the late summer and early fall.
Step 2: Pick leaves that are pale-yellow.
You want to avoid tobacco leaves that are too green.Take the lower leaves first for drying because they will turn yellow sooner.
Step 3: A well-ventilated shelter can be found in a barn or shed.
The leaves need to be protected from the elements.A barn, shed, or garage is good for this.If you have enough space, you can dry the leaves in your home.You can control the humidity in a shelter by opening or closing doors.Keeping the humidity high will help keep the leaves from drying quickly.The leaves may be burned by direct sunlight.
Step 4: Hang your tobacco in bunches of leaves.
Fasten the leaves to a clothesline or rope, bunched together at the stem, and tied with a rubber band as they shrink.If you only want to dry a few leaves, you can thread individual stems and hang them from a string.
Step 5: As leaves dry, control the humidity.
During cooler periods, open the doors of the barn or shed during the day to bring in the warmer air.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.If your leaves are drying quickly, you may need to use a humidifier.If you are going to dry tobacco in your home, make sure the temperature and humidity are right.An air-conditioned home would be too dry to use tobacco.It may remain green if leaves are dry too fast.
Step 6: When the leaves have dried enough, watch them.
The leaves will turn yellow, orange, and brown as they dry.Depending on the tobacco leaves you are using, the shades will vary.The process can take between 3 and 8 weeks depending on the environment.The process is complete when the leaves are brown and the edges are curled.The dried leaves will feel very thin and sticky.They should not be brittle.The curing process makes the dried leaves smell sweet.
Step 7: The stems need to be removed from the leaves.
Carefully remove the leaf from the tobacco's stem.You can either use it immediately or store it for later use.Stems may increase the chance of mold in storage.When tobacco leaves are brown and flexible, they are ready to be smoked or stored.The leaves can be moistened with water from a spray bottle.They will regain their pliability with a little water.You can keep the leaves in a bag or a humidor.If you have moistened brittle leaves, be sure to pat them down with a paper towel so there isn't any water on them.It will keep the leaves moist and reduce the chance of mold.