Unraveling flavor formation mechanism of cigar smoke through volatile compounds in cigar smoke and potential precursors in cigar tobacco

The flavor of cigar smoke directly influences the consumer's willingness to purchase. However, the analysis of cigar smoke was lack. In this research, a total of 235 volatile compounds were identified by GC×GC-TOFMS in cigar smoke from Yuxi, Dehong and Pu'er regions of Yunnan, including 72 alkenes, 47 aromatic hydrocarbons, 42 heterocyclics, 28 ketones, 8 alcohols, 4 aldehydes, 3 esters, 13 phenols, 5 acetonitrile and 13 others. ROAV analysis indicated that <i>o</i>-cresol, guaiacol, 2,6-dimethyl-phenol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene, <i>(E,E)</i>-2,4-hexadienal, butylbenzene, naphthalene, nicotine and D-limonene might be the key flavor compounds. By OPLS-DA, 2-methyl-pyridine, 2,4-dimethylfuran, 2-carene, 13-heptadecyn-1-ol, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-benzene, 2,3,5,8-tetramethyl-1,5,9-decatrien, 1-ethyl-4-methyl-benzene, <i>β</i>-elemene, methyl isobutyl ketone and 3-methylcyclopentanone were found to be the differential volatiles distinguishing samples from different areas. Eventually, 5 groups of potential flavor precursors were summarized and identified (cembranoid, phenylalanine, chlorophyll, carotenoid and reducing sugar). This research has provided theoretical guidance for the improvement of flavor quality of cigar smoke in Yunnan.