Abstract: To clarify the quality characteristics of upper tobacco leaves with high usability and flavor types from different tobacco growing regions, the upper tobacco leaf samples were collected from industrial enterprise base units. Taking industrial usability as the primary basis, a comparative analysis was conducted on the routine chemical components, appearance quality, and sensory quality of upper tobacco leaves from robust, medium, and fresh flavor type regions. The results showed that: 1) In terms of appearance quality, upper tobacco leaves from robust flavor type regions had relatively higher maturity, looser leaf structure, and more moderate body. Conversely, leaves from medium flavor type regions scored higher in appearance quality indicators, while those from fresh flavor type regions, despite high usability, exhibited relatively lower maturity. 2) Among routine leaf chemical components, the influence of total alkaloid content on the sensory quality indicators of upper tobacco leaves varied significantly across the flavor type regions. A moderate increase in total alkaloid content positively affected aroma quality, enhancing aroma intensity, concentration, and strength, resulting in higher overall sensory evaluation scores for leaves from robust flavor type regions. However, this enhancement notably increased irritation of medium flavor type leaves and had detrimental effects on the aroma quality of fresh flavor type leaves. Furthermore, increasing potassium content and reducing chlorine content emerged as crucial strategies for enhancing the sensory quality of upper tobacco leaves with robust flavor type. 3) For robust and fresh flavor type regions, concentration and strength were key factors influencing the usability of upper tobacco leaves. Upper tobacco leaves with higher usability from robust flavor type regions require higher aroma quantity, concentration and strength, whereas in fresh flavor type regions, these factors may adversely affect usability.