Geographical distribution and variation of characteristic aroma notes of flue-cured tobacco leaves in China

In order to investigate the geographical distribution and variation of characteristic aroma notes of flue-cured tobacco leaves, the aroma notes, including fresh-sweet, honeysweet, mellow-sweet, burnt-sweet, green, burnt, woody, floral, resin scents, of flue-cured tobacco leaves sampled from different areas in China were evaluated and analyzed. The results showed that:1) The tobacco which offered fresh-sweet scent mainly distributed in Yunnan, Fujian, Guizhou, Sichuan (Panzhihua, Liangshan, Luzhou and Yibin), etc.; the tobacco which offered honeysweet scent mainly distributed in Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shandong, Fujian, Hubei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, etc.; the tobacco which offered burnt-sweet scent mainly distributed in Hunan, Henan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Shandong, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, western and southern Yunnan (Lincang, Puer and Baoshan), etc.; the tobacco which offered green scent mainly distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Gansu, Fujian, Shandong, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, etc.; the tobacco which offered floral scent mainly distributed in Fujian; the tobacco which offered resin scent mainly distributed in Henan; the tobacco which offered mellow-sweet, woody and burnt scents were perceivable in all the samples. 2) Geographically, fresh-sweet and green scents in tobacco descended gradually, while honeysweet scent increased gradually from central Yunnan (Yuxi, Kunming, Qujing, etc.) to Guizhou; from Guizhou to Hunan, honeysweet scent in tobacco decreased gradually, while burnt-sweet and burnt scents increased gradually; from Guizhou to Chongqing, western Hubei (Enshi, etc.) and western Hunan (Xiangxi, Zhangjiajie, etc.), honeysweet scent in tobacco decreased gradually, while mellow-sweet scent increased gradually; from Chongqing to Henan and Hunan, mellow-sweet scent in tobacco decreased gradually, while burnt-sweet and burnt scents increased gradually.