The filling capacity of tobacco is increased by contacting tobacco with the vapors of a volatile organic solvent which is inert to the tobacco and has an atmospheric boiling point of between - 50* and 80* C. The tobacco treated is free of any liquid or solid form of the solvent when contacted by the vapors and is maintained at a temperature above the boiling point of the said compound at the pressure prevailing during the contacting. Thereafter, without cooling the tobacco below the said boiling point, the pressure is rapidly reduced or the temperature rapidly increased to provide vapor releasing conditions and expansion of the tobacco.