Two spectrophotometric methods have been evaluated in order to assess their applicability for the determination of reducing sugars in small tobacco samples. The first uses a colorimetric reaction, absorbing at 510 nm, and produced by Nelson's reagent. The second is based on the absorbance at 237 nm of the ferrocyanide produced by means of the reducing sugars. In order to take account of interference in the mixture, the method of addition is used. The reference method has been the classic reaction between reducing sugars and Fehling solution. This method applied to the standard solutions of glucose/fructose (G/F 1 :1), having concentrations 75, 150, and 225 gm/ml, gave 72.6, 148.0, and 209.6 gm/ml; respectively subsequently applied to a Burley tobacco extract, it indicated traces of sugars, but adding to the extract 75, 150, and 225 gm/ml, gave 70.8, 139.6, and 212.4 gm/ml of G/F. The method employing Nelson's reagent, tested on the standard solutions having concentrations of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 gm/ml, gave 1.3, 2.8, and 4.4 gm/ml of the G/F. Tested on the pure extract it gave 1.4 mg/ml and for additions of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 gm/ml of G/F, it gave 2.9, 4.6, and 6.2 gm/ml. The ferricyanide method gave a considerable degree of interference unless a decolourised extract was used. The method employing the Nelson's reagent and 0.2 g of tobacco, has a good precision and applicability.