2401.20.57.10 - Fire-cured Kentucky and Tennessee

This HTS category, 2401.20.57.10, specifically classifies unmanufactured tobacco that has been partly or wholly stemmed or stripped, and is not threshed or similarly processed. Crucially, it covers tobacco that contains no wrapper tobacco or not more than 35 percent wrapper tobacco by weight. The defining characteristic for this subcategory is that the tobacco has undergone a fire-curing process and originates from the Kentucky and Tennessee regions of the United States, renowned for this specific curing method which imparts a distinct aroma and flavor profile.

This classification is distinguished from its siblings by its precise geographic origin and curing method. For instance, 2401.20.57.15 represents dark-air cured Kentucky and Tennessee tobacco, differentiating it through the absence of fire curing. Similarly, categories like Virginia fire-cured (2401.20.57.20) or Virginia sun-cured (2401.20.57.25) are excluded due to their different curing processes and/or geographical origins. The "Other" subcategory (2401.20.57.40) serves as a residual category for any fire-cured Kentucky and Tennessee unmanufactured tobacco meeting the overall criteria but not fitting the more specific descriptions.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS classification system, there are no further subcategories branching from 2401.20.57.10. Therefore, accurate classification relies on meticulously adhering to the criteria of unmanufactured tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped, not threshed, not containing wrapper tobacco or containing not over 35 percent wrapper tobacco, and specifically the fire-cured process applied to Kentucky and Tennessee varieties. Any tobacco not meeting all these specific criteria would be directed to an alternative classification.