Methods for reducing one or more tobacco specific nitrosamines in tobacco material

A method of reducing the amount of at least matrix-bound NNK in tobacco material comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing tobacco material comprising at least matrix-bound NNK;
• (b) measuring the level of at least matrix-bound NNK in the tobacco material of step (a);
• (c) contacting the tobacco material of step (a) comprising at least one matrix-bound NNK with a first aqueous solution or solvent;
• (d) heating the tobacco material of step (c) for at least 30 seconds to a temperature of greater than 115 degrees Celsius in the presence of a liquid or steam to release at least a portion of the matrix-bound NNK from the insoluble tobacco matrix of the tobacco material;
• (e) measuring the level of at least matrix-bound NNK in the tobacco material following step (c);
• (f) comparing the levels of matrix-bound NNK obtained in steps (b) and (d) to determine whether at least matrix-bound NNK has been released from the tobacco material of step (e) compared to the tobacco material of steps (a) as measured in step (b);
• and
• (g) removing the matrix-bound NNK from the tobacco material of step (e) by one or more washes with a second aqueous solution or solvent.