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Tobacco Science & Technology, 2009, 11, p.15-20, ISSN.1002-0861

Effects of major chemical components in flue-cured tobacco of different flavor types from west Fujian and middle Jiangxi on their smoking quality

DOU YU-QING; TANG ZHAO-QI; WANG PING
Shanghai Tobacco Machinery Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
In order to find out the difference in chemical composition between tobacco with different flavor types and their effects on smoking quality, 106 flue-cured tobacco samples from west Fujian and middle Jiangxi were analyzed and their smoking quality and flavor style were identified. The results showed that the contents of nicotine and total nitrogen in tobacco with dominant flavor type in west Fujian and middle Jiangxi were far lower, while the contents of reducing sugar and total sugar, the ratios of sugar to nicotine and nitrogen to nicotine were far higher than those in non-dominant flavor type tobacco. The closer the flavor type to fresh aroma note, the lower the contents of nicotine and total nitrogen and the higher the contents of reducing sugar and total sugar would be. The ratio of sugar to nicotine was the most important factor affecting the flavor quality of tobacco leaf, nicotine content was the major factor, and the ratio of nitrogen to nicotine the next, which affected flavor quantity, offensive taste, aftertaste, irritation, strength and smoking quality of tobacco. The nicotine content was the major factor, and ratio of sugar to nicotine the next, characterizing the typical fresh flavor style of tobacco. Therefore, in west Fujian and middle Jiangxi tobacco growing area, nicotine content is an essential factor affecting smoking quality of flue-cured tobacco, and the ratios of sugar to nicotine and nitrogen to nicotine are also important influence factors.