Tobacco quality involves its all physical, chemical and taste properties that depends on tobacco kinds and its treatment. Quality depends also on mutual influence of natural and producing conditions as well as tobacco kinds, agrotechnic way, soil, disease damage, pests and treatment technology. All elements of quality can be grouped in three groups as follows:

• chemical;
• physical;
• tasting effects;

Chemical indicator of tobacco quality

Chemical composition of tobacco leaves is seen on its external shape and its smoking figures. There are great number of chemical elements of tobacco composition but the most important are aroma elements, dried substance, mineral ingredients, protein, amino acids, ammonia, alkaloid, polysaharid, glucozid, polyphenol, pectine substance, organic acids and pigments.

Physical indicator of tobacco quality

Physical parameters of tobacco quality are directly related with chemical composition of the row materials and its tasting properties. Having the important effect on the cut tobacco properties and indirectly on the cigarette properties and burning conditions and the smoke figures features. The most important external features that are the physical indicator of quality are: size and shape of leaves, nervature and thickness, color, polishing and rough surface, strength and elasticity, volume weigh, leaf aroma, capability of water retaining, combustion capability, fractions composition, among leaves and insertion. Tobacco quality estimation in practice is mainly done according to the physical properties.

Tasting features of tobacco quality

Taste features represent the properties that tobacco shows by smoking, with relation of specific effect of tobacco smoke on the sense of taste, smell and nerve system. The properties that are the most determinative tobacco taste quality during smoking are as follows: aroma, taste, irritation, strength harmony and burning.