English
Français 
Italiano 
Русский 
Español Expanded tobacco
Expanded Tobacco is often used in American blend cigarettes because of its economic and technical benefits.
The expanded tobacco reduces the tar and nicotine deliveries per cigarette
Expanded cut tobacco reduces the cigarette weight, while preserving the natural tobacco taste. It increases the filling value and burn rate, which reduce the number of puffs, which in turn reduce the tar and nicotine deliveries per cigarette.
The expanded tobacco is usually included in the blend at 5 to 10 percent at full-flavor cigarettes, and 10 to 15 percent or more in light or ultra-light cigarettes.
Principle
Most tobacco expansion processes are based on impregnating the cut tobacco in liquid gas and then subjecting it to heat, whereas the gas evaporates and causes expanding or ballooning of the cellular structure. The gas is then recovered and recycled.
Rate and nature of the expansion
It depends on the type of tobacco. Burley gives the best expansion,with some volatile loss and shorter strands, flue-cured gives good expansion, with low volatile loss and good strands, and oriental is not recommended due to low expansion and high volatile loss.
