Analysis of several tobacco leaf constituents showed that each changed quantitatively during both yellowing and drying phases of bright leaf curing. Nearly 10% of the sugar, 9% of amino acids, and 13% of polyphenols found in the cured leaf were generated during the drying phase alone. These along with other changes indicate that the drying phase of bright leaf curing is not as inert as is generally believed.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")