Whitish incrustations formed on the leaf surface of chewing tobacco is an important quality criterion. Incrustations collected from chewing tobacco of Bihar and Tamilnadu States showed 49.5% and 84.5% total ash, respectively. They contained predominantly Sio₂, K₂O, Cl and CO₃ with small quantities of CaO, MgO, P₂0₅ and SO₄. Incrustations collected from Bihar were rich in malic acid whereas those from Tamilnadu State contained citric and malic acids along with petroleum ether extractables and non-protein nitrogenous constituents. The chemical nature and possible mechanisms of formation of incrustations is discussed.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")