ICS65.160 
X87 
 
 
 
National Standards of the P eople’s Republic of China 
 
National standard GB15269.4-xxxx 
Replacement:GB1529-1994 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cigars-Part 4:Technical requirements for 
sensory evaluation 
 
 
 
(Draft for approval) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
xxxx-xx-xx publication                              xxxx-xx-xx implemented 
 
 
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Q uarantine of the 
People’s Republic of  China publication GB 15269.4-xxxx 
PREFACE 
 
Only Part 4.3 of this section is ma ndatory, the rest are recommendations. 
 
GB1529 ‘cigar’ is divided into four parts: 
 
Part 1. Merchandise classification and technical requirements f or sampling; 
 
Part 2. Packaging labelling; 
 
Part 3. Packing, production and technical requirements for stor age and 
transportation; 
 
Part 4. Technical requirements for sensory evaluation; 
 
This section is divided into f our parts of GB1529-1994. The sec tion replaces 
GB1529-1994. The main changes betw een this section and that of GB1529-1994 
are as follows: 
 
- Appendix A of GB1529-1994 (“intrinsic quality of smoking term”)  has 
been removed; 
- The number of terms and definiti ons for sensory evaluation of c igars have 
increased; 
- The technical requirements for sensory evaluation of cigars hav e been 
modified; 
- The methods for testing sensory evaluation of cigars have been revised; 
- The rules for testing sensory evaluation of cigars have been re vised; 
- The number of technical requirements for sensory evaluation of cigars 
has increased; 
 
This part is supplied by the Stat e Tobacco Monopoly Administrat ion. 
 
This section is classified by the China Tobacco Standardization  Technical 
Committee (TC144). 
 
This part is drafted by: Sichuan  and Chongqing Tobacco Industri al Company, 
Shandong Tobacco Industry Ltd., China Tobacco Standardization R esearch 
Centre, North Beijing Tobacco Qua lity Supervision, Inspection S tation, Hubei 
Tobacco Industry Ltd, Anhui Tobacco Industrial Corporation.  
 
The main drafters of this section are: Zeng Dailong, Zhang Went ong, Ma Ming, Li 
Dong, Yang Jingsheng, Liu Yibing, Zhou Bin, Xia Yongfeng, Wang Yihui, Yang Jun. 
 
The specifications of this part replace those of: 
-  GB15269-1994: 
 
 
 GB 15269.4-× × × × 
 
 
Cigars Part 4: technical requirements for sensory evaluation 
  
1 Scope Part GB15269 stipulates the techn ical requirements, methods for  testing and 
inspection rules for the sensory evaluation of cigars. This sec tion applies to 
cigars. 
 
 
2 Normative references 
The following clauses within this document become the provision s of this section 
through part GB15269. No dated references, subsequent amendment s (excluding 
corrections of printed errors) or revisions apply to this secti on. We do however 
encourage the parties to reach an agreement as to whether to in clude this 
section in the latest version of this document. Please refer to  the latest version of 
this document for any references that are undated. 
GB / T 15269.1-XXXX Cigar Part 1: Me rchandise classification an d technical 
requirements for sampling 
 
 
3 Terms and definitions 
The following terms and definitions apply to part GB15269. 
 3.1 Oiliness 
The cigar wrapper and filler should be shiny and oily. 
  
3.2 Odour 
The cigar smoke should be ri ch, with a pleasant aroma. 
 
3.3 Purity 
The cigar should have a smooth and pure taste. 
 
3.4 Denseness 
The cigar should have a dense an d intense flavour, with smoke l ingering for a 
long time. 
 
3.5 Harmony 
The cigar should have a consiste nt harmony of flavours, so that  no one single 
odour stands out. If the odour is  enhanced, it should be well d istributed, meaning 
equal distribution of the to bacco leaf within the cigar. 
 
3.6 Richness 
The cigar should be rich in fl avour, but not overpowering. 
 
3.7 Thinness  
The cigar should produce a singl e flavour, which should not lin ger.  
3.8 Harshness 
The draw of the cigar smoke should appear granular, billowy and  not to fluffy. 
 
3.9 Unpleasant taste 
The smoker should experience a s lightly uncomfortable, bitter, earthy aroma and 
taste, which will i rritate breathing. 
 
3.10 Irritancy 
The cigar smoke should cause sli ght irritation to the senses, a nd a singing feeling 
to the nasal cavity, mouth and larynx. 
 
3.11 Aftertaste 
The smoke should leave an aftert aste in the nose and mouth, whi ch should be 
fluid and not entirely pleasant. 
 
3.12 Purity and cleanness 
The inside of the mouth should remain perfectly clean. 
 
3.13 Ash The cigar should burn consistent ly, with the burning of the ash  at the foot of the 
cigar contributing to over all quality of the cigar. 
 
3.14 Burning uniformity 
The height of the smoke from the cigar should remain constant d uring burning 
or smouldering. 
 
3.15 Ash coherence 
There should be no gap between t he binder and the wrapper durin g the burning. 
 
3.16 Ash quality 
Ash should remain grey and of a detailed complexion throughout the process of 
burning. 
 
3.17 Odour 
There should be no distinct odou r of tobacco that would reduce or impair the 
smoker’s ability to breathe (wit h the exception of certain stro nger varieties). 
 
3.18 Mould 
There should be no mouldy aroma,  of the sort that would impair the smoker’s 
ability to breathe. 
 
3.19 Local circulation smoking method 
By which the smoker uses only so me of their senses to evaluate the taste of the 
cigar. Draw into the mouth slowl y, and then after a pause, exha le slowly through 
the mouth and nose. 
[YC / T 138-1998, definition 3.10] 
 
3.20 Overall circulation smoking method By which the smoker uses all of t heir senses to evaluate the ta ste of the cigar. 
Pass through the larynx, swallow and slowly release. 
[YC / T 138-1998, Definition 3.11] 
 
4 Technical requirements  
 
4.1 The sensory quality of cigar s is evaluated using a percenti le score system, 
and is split into a number of se parate evaluation categories, i llustrated in Table 1 
on the following page: 
 
Table 1. Categories of sensory quality of cigars 
Colouration Odour Unpleasant T aste Irritancy Aftertaste Ash 
Indicators Maximum 
score Indicators Maximum 
score Indicators Maximum 
score Indicators Maximum 
score Indicators Maximum 
score Indicators Maximum 
score 
Consistent 
colour, shine 
and oiliness 10 Significant yet 
mellow odour, 
rich concentration, 
harmonious 36 None 12 None 14 Pure, 
comfortable, 
fluid, slightly bitter. 22 Burns evenly, 
close to the foot 
of the cigar, a fine grey/white 
colour 6 
Fairly 
consistent colour, some 
shine and 
oiliness 7 Less distinctive, 
though more prominent 
odour, a little 
rough, fairly harmonious 27 Some 9 Much 11 Quite 
comfortable, fluid and bitter. 17 Burns fairly 
evenly, quite close to the 
foot, the ash is 
somewhat darker 4 
Colour is not 
consistent. 
Less oily 
sheen. 4 Prominent 
odour, though 
not distinctive, 
thin, rough, fairly 
harmonious. 18 Much 6 Significant 8 Somewhat pure 
comfortable, 
fluid and bitter. 12 Burns 
inconsistently, 
not close to the 
foot, black/grey in colour   2 
 
 
4.2 The total score for the sens ory quality of cigars is based on the design values (for these design values, see GB / T 15269 .1 - × × × × of 
4.9) and the deviation in qualit y should be no less than 4 poin ts. 
 
4.3 There should be no noticea ble smell or sign of mould. 
 
5 Test methods 
 
5.1 Preparation of laboratory sa mples should be made in accorda nce with the requirements of Par t 6.1.2, through GB/T15269.1-XX XX. 
 
 5.2 The temperature for test co nditions should be 16° C - 25° C, with a humidity  of 65% - 75%, and room conditions no less t han 72h. 5.3 The local circulation method should be used for evaluating full-sized cigars. The full cigar circulation method should be used for 
evaluating miniature cigars 
 
 5.4 Sensory evaluation can be completed in Table 2 below. Ther e should be no less than five pe ople participating in the evalu ation 
process for each cigar. Manufacturers can also take part in the  evaluation. 
 
Table 2. Original records for cigar sensory quality inspection  
Colour and shine (10) Ash (6) 
Colour (6) Shine (4) Odour (36) Unpleasant taste 
(12) Irritancy (14)  Aftertaste (22) Congealing at 
foot, burning 
consistency, 
appearance of ash Total Item 
I II III I II III I II III I II III I II III I II III I II III  
Sample No Brand 6 4 2 4 3 2 36 27 18 12 9 6 14 11 8 22 17 12 6 4 2  
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
                        
Comments: 
Examiner:                Year  /             Month  /              Date 
 6. Test categories 
Part 4.3 of this section will be  referred to as category A, whi le Part 4.2 of this 
section will be referred to as category B. Cigar evaluation is divided into type 
inspection, factory inspection and monitoring supervision. Type  inspection 
should include all items. Monitor ing supervision should be carr ied out according 
to the relevant requirements set  by bodies of tobacco quality c ontrol 
investigation organisations. As a rule, category A tends to be used most 
commonly. Factory inspections are  carried out according to indu strial quality 
control requirements for testing  their own content. In order to  ensure product 
quality, category A class should be tested at the very least. 
 
 
7 Conducting inspection 
7.1 Sensory quality is scored out of 100, with the best score b eing 100 points. 
 
7.2 Half-points are rounded up into units. 
 
7.3 Each item is evaluated accord ing to six different categorie s: colour and shine, 
odour, unpleasant taste, irritancy, aftertaste and ash. 
  7.4 When evaluating the cigar’s  colour and shine, both the wra pper and the filler 
should be taken into account. 
 
7.5 Results 
7.5.1 Results and statistics are  calculated by equation (1) to calculate individual 
average score, accurate to 0.01. 
 
X
i = ΣX i / n                          ............ equation (1) 
 
Where: 
ΣX i ----- total of all the scores for an item 
n ------ number of people  examining the item 
Xi ------ the average score for an item 
 
7.5.2 The sensory quality score is accurate to 0.1. 
 
7.5.3 Any apparent odour or sign s of mould shall result in a se nsory quality score 
of zero. 
 
7.6 If a product fails to meet t he requirements of Parts 4.2 or  4.3 through type 
testing or through factory inspe ction, then the batch of cigars  shall be recorded 
as unsuitable. 
 
 
 
References 
 
[1] YC / T 138-1998, Procedures for sense quality evaluation of  tobacco and 
tobacco products