Casing & Flavoring

Casing – A process in which a casing mixture is made and applied to the tobacco to help smooth out the smoke as well as act as a base flavor. Each manufacturer will have their own unique casing recipe and will typically apply it before final flavoring. Popular casing ingredients are licorice, corn syrup, and sugar. There are two methods for casing tobacco:

• Dipping - Tobacco is dragged through a trough of casing and the excess is squeezed out of rollers. This applies a great deal of casing to the product and is essential to the production of plug cut style tobaccos. Cubes, slices, and some of the more traditional styled products are also dipped.

• Spray Cased – Tobacco is run through a cylinder and casing is sprayed onto the product. This method is the most common casing method today. Tobaccos cased under this process tend to be fluffier than dipped tobaccos.

Flavor – Blended tobaccos, are almost always treated with flavoring agents to enhance their natural taste. The flavoring process – employing such ingredients as sugar, honey, licorice, or fruit extracts – is governed by formulas which are perhaps the most carefully guarded industrial secrets in the tobacco business. Flavoring is applied to cased tobacco, and some typical flavors include vanilla, rum, whiskey, or cherry, to provide the “Top Notes” of the blend