Why are tobacco leaves allowed to wilt after harvest?

Allowing tobacco leaves to wilt after harvest is a critical step in the curing process. The primary purpose of this practice is to make the leaves more pliable, which prevents breakage and bruising during the subsequent handling required for curing.1

To ensure the best results, the leaves are typically left in the field for a period ranging from a few hours to two days, provided they are protected from sunburning. Wilting is the first of four essential stages in curing—followed by yellowing, colouring, and drying—all of which involve physical and chemical changes necessary to develop the leaf's desired properties.12