How to tame urea smell from Va leaf

[yesrepeatno]

Bit of an odd question I guess, but the Va whole leaf that I'm working with has a distinct smell of cat piss. The smell persists through pressing and casing. This doesn't translate to the smoke at all, it burns clean and well. However it makes it difficult to share with others whose first impression from the bag note is negative to say the least. From what I've read on the forum, kilning doesn't do anything for Va leaf so is there anything else I can do to get the smell to be less unpleasant and tending towards the more traditional hay/fig like smell of Va leaf?

 

[deluxestogie]

From what I've read on the forum, kilning doesn't do anything for Va leaf

That is incorrect. If Virginia has been flue-cured, kilning alters its color and aroma. If Virginia has simply been air-cured, then kilning makes a dramatic difference.

Bob

 

[yesrepeatno]

That is incorrect. If Virginia has been flue-cured, kilning alters its color and aroma. If Virginia has simply been air-cured, then kilning makes a dramatic difference.

Bob

I'm working with flue cured Virginia, do you think kilning would help in this case?

 

[deluxestogie]

Probably. If you are detecting an ammonia odor from flue-cured tobacco, then it was likely flue-cured improperly.

Bob