Aging of Cased Redried Flue-cured Yunnan Strips B2F

The basic, acidic and neutral aroma constituents, pH value and smoking quality of cased and uncased redried flue-cured Yunnan strips B2F were studied during aging.The results showed that:1) the profiles of alcohols and esters in cased strips during aging were changed and the neutral constituent approached its peak in advance; 2) the varying extent of acidic constituents in cased B2F differed from that in uncased tobacco at early stage of aging, though the varying trend of the constituents in both tobacco was alike;3) the pH value of aqueous extract of cased tobacco decreased slower than that of uncased tobacco;4) total aroma constituent in cased tobacco reached its peak earlier than that in uncased tobacco, while the duration of maximum content of some key aroma constituents was shortened;and 5) the smoking quality was peaked faster by casing, while it maintained a shorter duration and stepped down afterwards.It was concluded that aging of redried flue-cured Yunnan strips B2F was accelerated by casing, therefore the tobacco should be used timely when it was in its optimum status.