The use of unexpanded tobacco is not as cost effective as expanded tobacco. This disclosure relates to a process for the treatment of tobacco materials so as to enhance puffing. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a process that comprises contacting tobacco with an aqueous enzyme solution exhibiting cellulase activity, incubating the tobacco-enzyme mixture, and thereafter expanding the tobacco material. Tobacco materials treated in this manner exhibit an enhanced capability for expansion, thereby resulting in a significant increase in filling capacity when compared to untreated expanded tobacco.