The expansive properties of leaf tobacco by nitrogen gas was investigated with cut tobacco AB3O-1, CD3L-1(NC82). Major factors for the best expansion of the tobacco by the gas were an impregnated pressure and expansion temperature. The expansion rate for AB3O-1 and CD3L-1 at 250℃, 750kg/cm2 was 96.6%, 99.4% respectively. The shred size and fineness index at 96.6% of expansion rate for AB3O-1 was almost the same as at 58.3% for CD3L-1. The time reaching at equilibrium moisture under of RH 57% was 36hr in non-treated leaf tobacco, but it was 20hr in expanded tobacco. We confirmed that total sugar contents of leaf tobacco by the expansion was decreased with 9.3∼10.9%. Total alkaloid was decreased with 17.5∼21.1% and ether extracts was declined with 4.9∼9.3%. These results suggest that the expansion method of leaf tobacco by nitrogen gas is a useful method without any serious environmental troubles. Key words : expansion, nitrogen gas, heat treatment, tobacco.