Technological profile and quality level of tobaccos from Basmi variety group dominating the Bulgarian market

The dominance in the current Oriental tobacco market in Bulgaria is largely identified with the demand and supply of “Krumovgrad”, “Basma” (GR) and “Katerini” (GR) ecotypes. The aim of the study was to characterize the technological profile and quality level of those tobaccos in two production regions, based on the complex assessment of chemical, visual, smoking and other properties. A comparative analysis and ranking of the ecotypes within each of the regions was carried out. The chemical analysis showed higher nicotine content in the tobaccos of Greek origin - “Basma” (GR) in region Nevrokop (0.75%) and “Katerini” in Gorna Dzhumaya (1.11%). All samples, regardless of ecotype and production area, had reducing sugars/nicotine ratio considerably higher than the optimal values for Oriental tobacco. The rest of the chemical indicators and the expert assessment of tobacco sensory properties revealed tobacco quality variations within each of the regions. The final ranking of the ecotypes in the respective regions, based on the complex evaluation of all quality indicators, suggested that in region Nevrokop the highest quality level was found in “Krumovgrad” ecotype tobacco from Bogolin and Ablanitsa, followed by “Basma”(GR) from Teplen, while in region Gorna Dzhumaya better was the tobacco of ecotype “Katerini”.