As the first technological step in the tobacco processing procedure, drying determines the direction of the transformation of substances in the tobacco leaf. It is therefore the most important step, as it also has a direct effect on the quality of the final product. The paper discusses the possibilities of different methods of drying for Virginia tobacco, from standard drying (flue cured - FC) to atypical drying (air cured - AC, sun cured - SC, freeze-dried) as well the digitization of individual drying stages and the use of new energy sources. It was found that atypical drying methods change the chemical properties of tobacco, which would make them unfavorable for the production of Virginia cigarettes with a pleasant taste and average strength of tobacco smoke. The chemicals in the freezedried tobaccos are basically not converted, as most enzymes lose their activity at temperatures properties. The content of nitrogen substances, ash and sand increases significantly, while the content of soluble sugar decreases. SC Virginia contains larger quantities of undecomposed substances with a high molecular weight (protein and starch). The FC method provides the best results, especially when improving and digitizing the process. In addition, the atypical drying methods last longer than the usual 6 days when the process is carried out in special dryers with controlled conditions. The greening of Virginia's drying process through the use of biomass briquettes as an energy source has led to good results in terms of energy and environmental efficiency. The growing awareness of sustainability and environmental protection will also influence approaches to tobacco drying. The combination of traditional processes with new alternatives can offer opportunities for the production of diverse and high-quality tobacco products.
Urošević et al. (Mon,) studied this question.