A process for utilizing tobacco dust

A process for employing tobacco fines or dust is disclosed. The tobacco fines are dispersed in an aqueous liquid and applied to tobacco or reconstituted tobacco. In the preparation of reconstituted tobacco, the fines are incorporated into concentrated tobacco extract before the extract is recombined with the reconstituted sheet or into an aqueous carrier. The slurry of fines in extract or other carrier is passed through a homogenizer and then is applied as a coating to the sheet prior to drying and shredding. In application to tobacco strip and other tobacco blend components, the fines are combined with casing and the combination is homogenized to reduce the particle size and produce a uniform distribution. This is then sprayed by the casing applicator system onto the strip; the dried product is no more dusty in subsequent cutting and handling than is the strip without the added fines.