United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Tobacco

Division

Official Standard Grades for

Flue-Cured Tobacco

U.S. Types 11, 12, 13, 14, &

Foreign Type 92 

 

 

 

 

Effective date (March 27, 1989)

 
Official Standard Grades for Flue-Cured Tobacco

(U.S. Types 11, 12, 13, 14 and Foreign Type 92)

Effective March 27, 1989 (54 F.R. 7925)

Title 7, Chapter 1, Part 29

Issued under authority of

The Tobacco Inspection Act

(49 Stat. 731; 7 U.S.C. 511)

Washington, D.C. January 1995
1

Official Standard Grades For Flue-Cured Tobacco

(U.S. Types 11, 12, 13, 14 and Foreign Type 92)

DEFINITIONS

 

Definitions. As used in these standards, the words and phrases hereinafter defined shall have the

indicated meanings so assigned. 

Body. The thickness and density of a leaf or the weight per unit of surface. (See Elements of

Quality Chart.) 

Class. A major division of tobacco based on method of cure or principal usage. 

Clean. Tobacco is described as clean when it contains only a normal amount of sand or soil

particles. Leaves grown on the lower position of the stalk normally contain more sand or dirt

than those from higher stalk positions. (See Rule 4.) 

Color. The third factor of a grade based on the relative hues, saturations or chromas, and color

values common to the type. 

Color intensity. The varying degree of saturation or chroma. Color intensity as applied to

tobacco describes the strength or weakness of a specific color or hue. (See Elements of Quality

Chart.) 

Color symbols. As applied to flue-cured tobacco, color symbols are L -- lemon, F -- orange, FR

-- orange red, R -- red, V -- greenish, K -- variegated, KR -- variegated red or scorched, G --

green, GR -- green red, GK -- green variegated (may be scorched), GG -- gray green, KL --

variegated lemon, KF -- variegated orange, KV -- variegated greenish, KM -- variegated

(scorched) mixed, KD -- variegated dark red, and LL -- whitish-lemon. 

Combination symbols. A color or group symbol used with another symbol to form the third

factor of a grademark to denote a particular side or characteristic of the tobacco. As applied to

flue-cured tobacco, the combination symbols are XL -- lug side, PO -- oxidized primings, XO --

oxidized lugs or cutters, BO -- oxidized leaf or smoking leaf, GL -- thin-bodied nondescript, GF

-- medium-bodied nondescript, LP -- lemon (primings side), and FP -- orange (primings side),

KK-excessively scorched. 

Condition. The state of tobacco which results from the method of preparation or from the degree

of fermentation. Words used to describe the condition of tobacco are: Undried, air-dried,

steam-dried, sweating, sweated, and aged. 
2

Crude. A subdegree of maturity. Crude leaves are usually hard and slick as a result of extreme

immaturity. A similar condition may result from fire-kill, sunburn, or sunscald. Any leaf which is

crude to the extent of 20 percent or more of its surface may be described as crude. (See Rule 20.) 

Cured. Tobacco dried of its sap by either natural or artificial processes. 

Damage. The effect of mold, must, rot, or other fungus or bacterial diseases which attack

tobacco in its cured state. Tobacco having the odor of mold, must, or rot is considered damaged.

(See Rule 21.) 

Dirty. The state of tobacco containing moderate to excessive amounts of dirt or sand, or tobacco

to which additional quantities of dirt or sand have been added. (See Rule 24.) 

Elasticity. The flexible, springy nature of the tobacco leaf to recover approximately its original

size and shape after it has been stretched. 

Elements of quality. Elements of quality and the degrees used in the specifications of the Official

Standard Grades for Flue-cured, U.S. Types 11 - 14, and Foreign Type 92 are shown in chart

form. Words have been selected to describe the degrees of each element.

Excessively scorched (KK). As applied to flue-cured tobacco, the combination symbol “KK''

when used as the third factor of a grademark denotes that a lot contains over 50 percent of unripe

scorched tobacco. ( See Rule 16.)

Finish. The reflectance factor in color perception. Finish indicates the sheen or shine of the

surface of a tobacco leaf. 

Fire-killed. Any leaf of which 5 percent or more of its surface has a set green color caused by

excessive heat in the curing process. Any lot containing 5 percent or more of such tobacco may

be described as fire-killed. (See Rule 23.) 

Flue-cured. Tobacco cured under artificial atmospheric conditions by a process of regulating the

heat and ventilation without allowing smoke or fumes from the fuel to come in contact with the

tobacco; or tobacco cured by some other process which accomplishes the same results. 

Foreign matter. Any extraneous substance or material such as straw, strings, rubber bands, grass,

weeds, or an excessive amount of dirt or sand. (See Rule 24.) 

Form. The stage or preparation of tobacco such as stemmed or unstemmed. 

Grade. A subdivision of a type according to group, quality, and color. 
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Grademark. A grademark normally consists of three symbols which indicate group, quality, and

color. A letter is used to indicate group, a number to indicate quality, and a letter or letters to

indicate color. For example, B3F means Leaf, good quality, orange color. 

Green (G). A color term applied to immature or crude tobacco. Any leaf which has a green color

affecting 20 percent or more of its surface may be described as green. (See Rule 19.) 

Greenish (V). A color term applied to greenish-tinged tobacco. Any leaf which has a greenish

tinge or a pale green color affecting 20 percent or more of its surface may be described as

greenish. (See Rule 18.) 

Group. A division of a type covering closely related grades based on certain characteristics which

are related to stalk position, body, or the general quality of the tobacco. Groups in Flue-cured,

U.S. Types 11 - 14, and Foreign Type 92 are: Leaf (B), Smoking Leaf (H), Cutters (C), Lugs (X),

Primings (P) Mixed (M), Nondescript (N), and Scrap (S).

Injury. Hurt or impairment from any cause except the fungus or bacterial diseases which attack

tobacco in its cured state, but which is not serious enough to be classified as waste. (See

definitions of Damage and Waste; see also Rule 14.) 

Leaf. Whole, unstemmed leaf. Leaf, when applied to tobacco in strip form, shall describe the

divided unit of a whole leaf.

Leaf scrap. A byproduct of stemmed and unstemmed tobacco.

Leaf structure. The cell development of a leaf as indicated by its porosity. (See Elements of

Quality Chart.)

Lemon (L). Yellow.

Length. The linear measurement of cured tobacco leaves from the butt of the midrib to the

extreme tip. Length, as an element of quality, does not apply to tobacco in strip form.

Lot. A pile, basket, bulk, or more than one bale, case, hogshead, tierce, package, or other definite

package unit.

Maturity. The degree of ripeness. (See Elements of Quality Chart.)

Mixed color (KM). Distinctly different colors of the type mingled together. (See Rule 16.)

Mixed Group (M). This group consists of tobacco from three or more groups or two distinctly

different groups which are mixed together in various combinations.
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Nested. Any lot of Types 11 - 14 tobacco which has been loaded, packed or arranged to conceal

tobacco of inferior grade, quality or condition. Nested includes: (a) Any lot of tobacco which

contains injured or other inferior tobacco, any of which cannot be readily detected upon

inspection because of the way the lot is packed or arranged; (b) Any lot of tobacco which consists

of distinctly different grades, qualities or conditions and which is stacked or arranged with the

same kinds together so that the tobacco in the lower portions of the lot is distinctly inferior in

grade, quality or condition from the tobacco in the top portion of the lot. (See rule 27.)

No-G. A designation applied to a lot of tobacco which is offtype, semicured, fire-killed, smoked,

oxidized over 10 percent, or has an odor foreign to the type. (See Rule 23.)

No-G-F. A designation applied to a lot of tobacco that contains stalks, suckers, or foreign matter.

(See Rule 24.) 

No-G-Nested. A designation applied to a lot of Types 11 - 14 tobacco which is classified as

nested. (See Rule 27.)

Oil. A soft, semifluid constituent of tobacco. (See Elements of Quality Chart.)

Offtype. Tobacco of distinctly different characteristics which cannot be classified as Flue-cured,

U.S. Types 11 - 14 or Foreign Type 92. (See Rule 23.)

Orange (F). A reddish yellow.

Orange Red (FR). A yellowish red.

Order (case). The state of tobacco with respect to its moisture content.

Oxidized (O). A term applied to tobacco that has deteriorated and turned black during the curing

process. Any leaf of which 10 percent or more of its surface has been blackened during the curing

process may be described as oxidized. Oxidized tobacco is also known as barn scald or barn rot.

(See Rules 23 and 25.)

Package. A hogshead, tierce, case, bale, or other securely enclosed parcel or bundle.

Packing. A lot of tobacco consisting of a number of packages submitted as one definite unit for

sampling or inspecting. It is represented to contain the same kind of tobacco and has a common

identification number or mark on each package.

Papery. A term used to describe thin-bodied, oilless tobacco usually associated with

whitish-lemon color.
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Prematurity. A condition of growth and development characteristic of the lower leaves of the

tobacco plant. Premature leaves have some appearance of ripeness due to a process of starvation

caused by translocation of plant food elements from these leaves to other leaves higher on the

stalk.

Quality. A division of a group or the second factor of a grade based on the relative degree of one

or more elements of quality.

Raw. Tobacco as it appears between the time of harvesting and the beginning of the curing

process.

Red (R). A brownish red.

Semicured. Tobacco in the process of being cured or which is partially but not thoroughly cured.

Semicured includes tobacco which contains fat stems, swelled stems, frozen tobacco, frozen

stems, or stems that have not been thoroughly dried in the curing process. (See Rule 23.)

Side. A certain phase of quality, color, or length as contrasted with some other phase of quality,

color, or length; or any peculiar characteristic of tobacco.

Slick. A term used to denote tobacco having a close or tight leaf structure. Any leaf of lemon or

orange color of which 20 percent or more of its surface is close or tight may be described as slick.

(See Rule 17.)

Smoked. Any tobacco affected by smoke or fumes in the curing process. (See Rule 23.)

Sound. Free of damage.

Special factor. A symbol or term authorized to be used with specified grades. Tobacco to which

a special factor is applied may meet the general specifications but has a peculiar side or

characteristic which tends to modify the grade. (See Rules 10, 21, 22, 26, 28 and 29.)

Steam-dried. The condition of unfermented tobacco as customarily prepared for storage by

means of a redrying machine or other steam-conditioning equipment.

Stem. The midrib or large central vein of a tobacco leaf.

Stemmed. A form of tobacco, including strips or strip scrap, from which the stems or midribs

have been removed.

Strips. The sides of a tobacco leaf from which the stem has been removed from a lot of tobacco

composed of strips.
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Sweated. The condition of tobacco which has passed through one or more fermentations natural

to tobacco packed with a normal percentage of moisture. This condition sometimes is described

as aged.

Sweating. The condition of tobacco in the process of fermentation.

Symbol (S). As applied to Flue-cured tobacco the symbol (S) when used (a) as the third factor of

a grademark, denotes slick, unripe tobacco in lemon or orange color, and (b) when used

preceding a grademark, denotes tobacco in strip form. (See Rules 17 and 28.)

Tobacco. Tobacco as it appears between the time it is primed and cured, and the time it enters

into the different manufacturing processes. The acts of stemming, threshing, sweating, and

conditioning are not regarded as manufacturing processes. Tobacco, as used in these standards,

does not include manufactured or semi-manufactured products, stems, cuttings, clippings,

trimmings, siftings, or dust.

Tobacco products. Manufactured tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, smoking tobacco,

chewing tobacco, and snuff.

Type. A division of a class of tobacco having certain common characteristics and closely related

grades. Tobacco which has the same characteristics and corresponding qualities, colors, and

lengths is classified as one type, regardless of any factors of historical or geographical nature

which cannot be determined by an examination of the tobacco.

Type 11. That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Western Flue-cured or Old Belt

and Middle Belt Flue-cured, produced principally in the Piedmont sections of Virginia and North

Carolina and the district extending eastward to the coastal plains region. That portion of this type

known as Old Belt Flue-cured, normally characterized by a heavier body and darker color shade

and produced principally in the Piedmont sections of Virginia and North Carolina, may be

classified as Type 11a; and that portion of the type known as Middle Belt Flue-cured, normally

characterized by a thinner body and lighter color shade and produced principally in a section lying

between the Piedmont and coastal plains regions of Virginia and North Carolina, may be classified

as Type 11b.

Type 12. That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Eastern Flue-cured or Eastern

Carolina Flue-cured, produced principally in the coastal plains section of North Carolina, north of

the South River.

Type 13. That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Southeastern Flue-cured or South

Carolina Flue-cured, produced principally in the coastal plains section of South Carolina and the

southeastern counties of North Carolina, south of the South River.
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Type 14. That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Southern Flue-cured, produced

principally in the southern section of Georgia, in northern Florida, and to some extent in Alabama.

Type 92. That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Foreign-grown Flue-cured,

produced in countries other than the United States.

Undried. The condition of unfermented tobacco which has not been air-dried or steam-dried.

Uniformity. An element of quality which describes the consistency of a lot of tobacco as it is

prepared for market. Uniformity is expressed as a percentage in grade specifications. (See Rule

13.)

Unsound (U). Damaged. (See Rule 21.)

Unstemmed. A form of tobacco, including whole leaf and leaf scrap, from which the stems or

midribs have not been removed.

Variegated (K). Any tobacco that does not blend with the normal colors of the types; any leaf of

which 20 percent or more of its surface is grayish, mottled, bleached, doty-faced, scalded, or

sunbaked. (See Rule 15.)

Variegated dark red (KD). A dark brownish-red discoloration which usually results from

excessive sunbaking during the growing process or from storing cured tobacco over extended

periods of time. Any leaf of which 20 percent or more of its surface is dark brownish-red may be

described as variegated dark red. (See rule 15.) 

Variegated red or scorched (KR). A red discoloration which usually results from excessive heat

in the curing process. Any leaf of which 20 percent or more of its surface has been reddened in

the curing process may be described as variegated red or scorched. (See Rule 16.)

Waste. The portion or portions of the web of tobacco leaves which have been lost or rendered

less serviceable for use in tobacco products, including: (a) Portions which have decomposed or

largely decomposed by field diseases, field-firing, pole-burning, bulk-burning; and (b) portions

which are dead, lifeless, and do not have sufficient strength or stability to hold together in the

normal manufacturing process due to excessive injury of any kind.

Wet (W). Any sound tobacco containing excessive moisture to the extent that it is in unsafe or

doubtful-keeping order. Wet applies to any tobacco which is not damaged but which is likely to

damage if treated in the customary manner. (See Rule 22.)

Whitish-lemon (LL). A whitish-yellow color which usually results during wet growing seasons

when rain leaches or washes out the yellow color from the leaf. Any leaf of which 20 percent or

more of its leaf surface has whitish-yellow color may be described as whitish-lemon.
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Width. The relative breadth of a tobacco leaf expressed in relation to its length. Width, as an

element of quality, does not apply to tobacco in strip form. (See Elements of Quality Chart.) 

ELEMENTS OF QUALITY

Elements of Quality and Degrees of Each Element

 

These standardized words or terms are used to describe tobacco quality and to assist in

interpreting grade specifications. Tobacco attributes or characteristics which constitute quality

are designated as elements of quality. The range within each element is expressed by the use of

words or terms designated as degrees. These several degrees are arranged to show their relative

value, but the actual value of each degree varies with group.

 

Elements Degrees

Maturity Immature Unripe Mature Ripe Mellow

Leaf Structure Tight Close Firm Open

Body Heavy Fleshy Medium Thin

Oil Lean Oily Rich

Color Intensity Pale Weak Moderate Strong Deep

Width Stringy Narrow Normal Spready

Length 1/ 1/ 1/

Uniformity 2/ 2/ 2/

Injury

Tolerance

2/ 2/ 2/

Waste

Tolerance

2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Expressed in inches and centimeters (cm).

2/ Expressed in percentage.
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RULES

Rules. The application of these official standard grades shall be in accordance with the following

rules. 

Rule 1. Each grade shall be treated as a subdivision of a particular type. When the grade is stated

in an inspection certificate, the type also shall be stated. 

Rule 2. The determination of a grade shall be based upon a thorough examination of a lot of

tobacco or of an official sample of the lot. 

Rule 3. In drawing an official sample from a hogshead or other package of tobacco, three or

more breaks shall be made at such points and in such manner as the inspector or sampler may find

necessary to determine the kinds of tobacco and the percentage of each kind contained in the lot.

All breaks shall be made so that the tobacco contained in the center of the package is visible to the

sampler. Tobacco shall be drawn from at least three breaks from which a representative sample

shall be selected. The sample shall include tobacco of each different group, quality, color, length,

and kind found in the lot in proportion to the quantities of each contained in the lot. 

Rule 4. All standard grades must be clean unless otherwise noted by a special factor. 

Rule 5. The grade assigned to any lot of tobacco shall be a true representation of the tobacco at

the time of inspection and certification. If, at any time, it is found that a lot of tobacco does not

comply with the specifications of the grade previously assigned, it shall not thereafter be

represented as such grade. 

Rule 6. A lot of tobacco on the marginal line between two colors shall be placed in the color with

which it best corresponds with respect to body or other associated elements of quality. 

Rule 7. Any lot of tobacco which meets the specifications of two grades shall be placed in the

higher grade. Any lot of tobacco on the marginal line between two grades shall be placed in the

lower grade. 

Rule 8. A lot of tobacco meets the specifications of a grade when it is not lower in any degree of

any element of quality than the minimum specifications of such grade. 

Rule 9. The use of any grade may be restricted by the Director during any marketing season

when it is found that the grade is not needed or appears in insufficient volume to justify its use. 

Rule 10. Any special factor approved by the Director of the Tobacco Division, Agricultural

Marketing Service, may be used to show a peculiar side or characteristic of the tobacco which

tends to modify the grade.
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Rule 11. Interpretations, the use of specifications, and the meaning of terms shall be in

accordance with determinations or clarifications made by the Chief of the Standardization and

Review Branch and approved by the Director. 

Rule 12. In determining the grade of a lot of tobacco, the lot as a whole shall be considered.

Minor irregularities which do not affect over one percent of the tobacco shall be overlooked. 

Rule 13. Degrees of uniformity shall be expressed in terms of percentages. The percentages shall

govern the portion of a lot which must meet the specifications of the grade. (These percentages

shall not affect limitations established by other rules.) The minor portion must be closely related,

but may be of a different group, quality, and color from the major portion. 

Rule 14. The application of injury tolerance as an element of quality shall be expressed in terms

of a percentage. The appraisal of injury shall be based upon the percentage of affected leaf

surface or the degree of injury. In appraising injury, consideration shall be given to the normal

characteristics of the group as related to injury. 

Rule 15. Any lot of tobacco containing 20 percent or more of variegated tobacco other than

variegated red or scorched shall be described as variegated and designated by the color symbol

“K,” “KL,” “KF,” “KD,” or “KV.” 

Rule 16. Any lot of ripe tobacco which contains 20 percent or more of variegated red or

scorched tobacco shall be designated by the color symbol “KR.” Any lot of unripe tobacco which

is under 20 percent greenish or green but which contains 20 percent or more of scorched tobacco,

or any lot of tobacco which contains 20 percent or more of a color distinctly different from the

major color shall be classified as mixed color and designated by the color symbol “KM.” Any lot

of unripe tobacco in the C, or B groups which is under 20 percent greenish or green but which

contains 50 percent or more of scorched tobacco shall be classified as excessively scorched and

designated by the combination symbol “KK.” 

Rule 17. Any lot of lemon, or orange colored tobacco containing over 20 percent of slick

tobacco shall be designated by the symbol “S” in the X, C, or B groups. 

Rule 18. Any lot of mature tobacco in lemon or orange color containing 20 percent or more of

greenish tobacco, or any lot which is not green but which contains 20 percent or more of greenish

and green tobacco combined shall be designated by the color symbol “V.” 

Rule 19. Any lot of tobacco containing 20 percent or more of green tobacco, or any lot which is

not crude but contains 20 percent or more of green and crude combined shall be designated by the

color symbols “G,” “GR,” “GK,” “GG,” or the combination symbols “GL,” or “GF.” 
11

Rule 20. Crude tobacco shall not be included in any grade of any color except green, green red,

green variegated, gray green, or the combination symbols “GL,” or “GF” in the nondescript

group. Any lot containing 20 percent or more of crude tobacco shall be classified as nondescript. 

Rule 21. Damaged tobacco which otherwise meets the specifications of a grade shall be treated

as a special factor grade by placing the special factor “U” after the grademark. 

Rule 22. Sound tobacco that is wet or in doubtful-keeping order but which otherwise meets the

specifications of a grade shall be treated as a special factor grade by placing the special factor “W”

after the grademark. 

Rule 23. Tobacco shall be designated by the grademark “No-G,” when it is offtype, semicured,

fire-killed, smoked, oxidized over 10 percent, or has an odor foreign to the type.

Rule 24. Tobacco shall be designated by the grademark, “No - G - F,” when it contains stalks,

suckers, or foreign matter such as straw, strings, rubber bands, grass, weeds, or an excessive

amount of dirt or sand. 

Rule 25. Any lot of tobacco containing 10 percent or less of oxidized tobacco, except as

provided in rule 12, shall be designated by the combination symbols “PO,” “XO,” or “BO.” 

Crude or green tobacco containing 10 percent or less of oxidized shall be grade “N2.”

Rule 26. Tobacco that contains a moderate amount of dirt or sand, but which otherwise meets

the specifications of any Primings grade, including the first quality Nondescript from the Primings

group, shall be designated by placing the special factor, “dirt” or “sand” after the grademark. 

Rule 27. Tobacco in Types 11 - 14 shall be designated by the grademark “No-G-Nested” when it

is nested.

Rule 28. Tobacco in strip form which otherwise meets the specifications of a grade shall be

treated as a special factor grade by placing the special factor “S” preceding the grademark.

Rule 29. Any lot of tobacco containing 25 percent or more of an adjacent group, which otherwise

meets the specifications of a grade shall be treated as a special factor grade by placing the special

factor “M” preceding the grademark.
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Leaf (B Group). This group consists of leaves normally grown at or above the midportion of the

stalk. Leaves of the B group have a pointed tip, tend to fold, usually are heavier in body than the

other groups, and show little or no ground injury. 

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances 

B1L Choice Quality Lemon Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, rich in oil, deep color intensity, spready, 

20 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 90 percent; injury tolerance, 5 percent. 

B2L Fine Quality Lemon Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, rich in oil, deep color intensity, normal 

width, 18 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 85 percent; injury tolerance, 10 percent. 

B3L Good Quality Lemon Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, oily, strong color intensity, normal width, 

16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

B4L Fair Quality Lemon Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, only, moderate color intensity, normal 

width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste. 

B5L Low Quality Lemon Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, narrow. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

B6L Poor Quality Lemon Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, stringy. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be 

waste. 

B1F Choice Quality Orange Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, rich in oil, deep color intensity, spready, 20 inches 

or over in length. Uniformity, 90 percent; injury tolerance, 5 percent. 
13

B2F Fine Quality Orange Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, rich in oil, deep color intensity, normal width, 18 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 85 percent; injury tolerance, 10 percent. 

B3F Good Quality Orange Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, strong color intensity, normal width, 16 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

B4F Fair Quality Orange Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, moderate color intensity, normal width. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be 

waste. 

B5F Low Quality Orange Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, weak color intensity, narrow. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

B6F Poor Quality Orange Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, weak color intensity, stringy. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be 

waste. 

B1FR Choice Quality Orange Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, rich in oil, deep color intensity, spready, 20 inches 

or over in length. Uniformity, 90 percent; injury tolerance, 5 percent. 

B2FR Fine Quality Orange Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, rich in oil, deep color intensity, normal width, 18 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 85 percent; injury tolerance, 10 percent. 

B3FR Good Quality Orange Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, strong color intensity, normal width, 16 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 
14

B4FR Fair Quality Orange Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, moderate color intensity, normal width. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be 

waste. 

B5FR Low Quality Orange Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, weak color intensity, narrow. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

B6FR Poor Quality Orange Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, weak color intensity, stringy. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be 

waste. 

B5R Low Quality Red Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, heavy, lean in oil, weak color intensity, narrow. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

B3K Good Quality Variegated Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

B4K Fair Quality Variegated Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

B5K Low Quality Variegated Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 
15

B6K Poor Quality Variegated Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

B3KR Good Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance 15 percent. 

B4KR Fair Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

B5KR Low Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Leaf 

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B3V Good Quality Greenish Leaf 

Mature, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance 15 percent. 

B4V Fair Quality Greenish Leaf 

Mature, firm leaf structure, fleshy, oily, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

B5V Low Quality Greenish Leaf 

Mature, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B3KL Good Quality Variegated Lemon Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 
16

B4KL Fair Quality Variegated Lemon Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 20 percent of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

B5KL Low Quality Variegated Lemon Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B6KL Poor Quality Variegated Lemon Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

B3KF Good Quality Variegated Orange Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

B4KF Fair Quality Variegated Orange Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

B5KF Low Quality Variegated Orange Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B6KF Poor Quality Variegated Orange Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

B3KD Good Quality Variegated Dark Red Leaf

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width, 16 inches (40.6 cm) or over in 

length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent.
17

B4KD Quality Variegated Dark Red Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste.

B5KD Low Quality Variegated Dark Red Leaf

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste.

B6KD Poor Quality Variegated Dark Red Leaf

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste.

 B3KM Good Quality Variegated Mixed Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

B4KM Fair Quality Variegated Mixed Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

B5KM Low Quality Variegated Mixed Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B6KM Poor Quality Variegated Mixed Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

B3KK Good Quality Excessively Scorched Leaf

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width, 16 inches (40.6 cm) or over in 

length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent.
18

B4KK Fair Quality Excessively Scorched Leaf

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste.

B5KK Low Quality Excessively Scorched Leaf

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste.

B6KK Poor Quality Excessively Scorched Leaf

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste.

B4KV Fair Quality Variegated Greenish Leaf 

Unripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 25 percent waste. 

B5KV Low Quality Variegated Greenish Leaf 

Unripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 30 percent waste. 

B6KV Poor Quality Variegated Greenish Leaf 

Unripe, firm leaf structure, medium body, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 40 percent waste. 

B3S Good Quality Slick Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, fleshy, normal width, 16 inches or over in length. 

Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

B4S Fair Quality Slick Leaf 

Unripe, close leaf structure, fleshy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance, 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 
19

B5S Low Quality Slick Leaf 

Unripe, tight leaf structure, fleshy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B4G Fair Quality Green Leaf

Immature, close leaf structure, fleshy, oily, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste.

B5G Low Quality Green Leaf

Immature, tight leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

B6G Poor Quality Green Leaf

Immature, tight leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste.

B5GR Low Quality Green Red Leaf

Immature, tight leaf structure, heavy, lean in oil, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste.

B4GK Fair Quality Green Variegated Leaf

Immature, close leaf structure, heavy, normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste.

B5GK Low Quality Green Variegated Leaf

Immature, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste.

B6GK Poor Quality Green Variegated Leaf

Immature, tight leaf structure, heavy, stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste.
20

B5GG Low Quality Gray Green Leaf 

Immature, tight leaf structure, heavy, narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

Smoking Leaf (H Group). This group consists of leaves normally grown at or above the

midportion of the stalk. Leaves of the H group show a high degree of maturity, more open leaf

structure in relation to the B Group, and a material amount of injury characteristic of very ripe

leaf tobacco. 

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances 

H3F Good Quality Orange Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, strong color intensity, 

normal width, 16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 

percent. 

H4F Fair Quality Orange Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, moderate color intensity, 

normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 

percent may be waste. 

H5F Low Quality Orange Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, 

narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent

may be waste. 

H6F Poor Quality Orange Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, 

stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent 

may be waste. 

H4FR Fair Quality Orange Red Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, moderate color intensity, normal 

width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste. 
21

H5FR Low Quality Orange Red Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil, weak color intensity, narrow. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

H6FR Poor Quality Orange Red Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, 

stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent 

may be waste. 

H4K Fair Quality Variegated Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, moderate color intensity, 

normal width. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 

percent may be waste. 

H5K Low Quality Variegated Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, 

narrow. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 10 percent

may be waste. 

H6K Poor Quality Variegated Smoking Leaf 

Mellow, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, 

stringy. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent 

may be waste. 

Cutters (C Group). This group consists of leaves normally grown at or just below the midportion

of the stalk. Leaves of the C group have a tendency to roll concealing the stem or midrib. 

Cutters usually have a rounded tip, are thin to medium in body, and show some ground injury. 

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances 

C1L Choice Quality Lemon Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, deep color intensity, spready, 20 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 90 percent, injury tolerance, 5 percent. 
22

C2L Fine Quality Lemon Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, oily, deep color intensity, spready, 20 inches or 

over in length. Uniformity, 85 percent; injury tolerance, 10 percent. 

C3L Good Quality Lemon Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, oily, strong color intensity, spready, 18 inches or 

over in length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

C4L Fair Quality Lemon Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, moderate color intensity, normal width, 

16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which 

not over 5 percent may be waste. 

C5L Low Quality Lemon Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, weak color intensity, normal width, 16 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not

over 10 percent may be waste. 

C4LL Fair Quality Whitish-Lemon Cutters

Unripe, firm leaf structure, thin (papery), lean in oil, normal width, 16 inches or 

over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 

5 percent may be waste.

C5LL Low Quality Whitish-Lemon Cutters

Unripe, firm leaf structure, thin (papery), lean in oil, normal width, 16 inches 

(40.6 cm) or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of which 

not over 10 percent may be waste.

C5LP Low Quality Lemon Cutters (Primings Side)

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, pale color intensity, normal 

width, 16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of 

which not over 10 percent may be waste.
23

C1F Choice Quality Orange Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, deep color intensity, spready, 20 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 90 percent; injury tolerance, 5 percent. 

C2F Fine Quality Orange Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, deep color intensity, spready, 20 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 85 percent; injury tolerance, 10 percent. 

C3F Good Quality Orange Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, strong color intensity, spready, 18 

inches or over in length. Uniformity, 80 percent; injury tolerance, 15 percent. 

C4F Fair Quality Orange Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, moderate color intensity, 

normal width, 16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 

percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

C5F Low Quality Orange Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity, normal 

width, 16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 30 percent, of 

which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

C5FP Low Quality Orange Cutters (Primings Side) 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, pale color 

intensity, normal width, 16 inches or over length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 

30 percent, or which not over 10 percent may be waste.

C4KR Fair Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Cutters 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, moderate color intensity, 

normal width, 16 inches or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 

percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 
24

C4V Fair Quality Greenish Cutters 

Mature, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, normal width, 16 inches or 

over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 

percent may be waste. 

C4KL Fair Quality Variegated Lemon Cutters 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body, normal width, 16 inches or over in 

length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste. 

C4KF Fair Quality Variegated Orange Cutters

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body, normal width, 16 inches or over in 

length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste.

C4KM Fair Quality Variegated Mixed Cutters 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body, normal width, 16 inches or over in 

length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste. 

C4KK Fair Quality Excessively Scorched Cutters 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body, normal width, 16 inches (40.6 cm) or 

over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance, 20 percent, of which not over 5 

percent may be waste.

C4S Fair Quality Slick Cutters

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body, normal width, 16 inches or over in 

length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste.

C4G Fair Quality Green Cutters 

Immature, close leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, normal width, 16 inches 

or over in length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 

5 percent may be waste.
25

C4GK Fair Quality Green Variegated Cutters

Immature, close leaf structure, medium body, normal width, 16 inches or over in 

length. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent 

may be waste.

 

Lugs (X Group). This group consists of leaves normally grown near the bottom of the stalk.

Leaves of the X group usually have a blunt tip and open face; they show some ground injury

characteristic of the group. 

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances 

X1L Choice Quality Lemon Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, oily, strong color intensity. Uniformity, 80 percent;

injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

X2L Fine Quality Lemon Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, oily, strong color intensity. Uniformity, 75 percent;

injury tolerance 25 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

X3L Good Quality Lemon Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, moderate color intensity. Uniformity, 70

percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

X4L Fair Quality Lemon Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, weak color intensity. Uniformity, 70 

percent; tolerance, 30 percent waste. 

X5L Low Quality Lemon Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, pale color intensity. Uniformity, 70 

percent; tolerance, 40 percent waste. 

X3LL Good Quality Whitish-Lemon Lugs

Unripe, firm leaf structure, thin (papery), lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste.
26

X4LL Fair Quality Whitish-Lemon Lugs 

Unripe, firm leaf structure, thin (papery), lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 30 percent waste.

X1F Choice Quality Orange Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, strong color intensity. Uniformity, 

 80 percent injury tolerance 20 percent, of which not over 5 percent may be waste. 

X2F Fine Quality Orange Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, strong color intensity. Uniformity, 

75 percent; injury tolerance 25 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be waste. 

X3F Good Quality Orange Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, moderate color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be 

waste. 

X4F Fair Quality Orange Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 percent waste. 

X5F Low Quality Orange Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, pale color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 40 percent waste. 

X3KR Good Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, moderate color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent, injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be 

waste. 

X4KR Fair Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Lugs 

Ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 percent waste. 
27

X3V Good Quality Greenish Lugs 

Mature, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

X4V Fair Quality Greenish Lugs 

Mature, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 30 percent waste.

X4KL Fair Quality Variegated Lemon Lugs 

Unripe, close leaf structure, thin. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 percent 

waste. 

X4KF Fair Quality Variegated Orange Lugs 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 

percent waste. 

X4KV Fair Quality Variegated Greenish Lugs 

Unripe, firm leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 

percent waste. 

X3KM Good Quality Variegated Mixed Lugs 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste. 

X4KM Fair Quality Variegated Mixed Lugs 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 

percent waste. 

X3S Good Quality Slick Lugs

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury 

tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be waste.
28

X4S Fair Quality Slick Lugs 

Unripe, close leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 

percent waste.

X4G Fair Quality Green Lugs

Immature, firm leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 30 percent waste.

X5G Low Quality Green Lugs

Immature, firm leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 40 percent waste.

X4GK Fair Quality Green Variegated Lugs 

Immature, close leaf structure, medium body. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 

30 percent waste. 

Primings (P Group). This group consists of round-tipped leaves from the lowest portion of the

stalk. Leaves of the P group ripen prematurely as a result of starvation and show a material

amount of injury characteristic of leaves grown close to the ground. 

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances 

P2L Fine Quality Lemon Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, thin, oily, moderate color intensity. 

Uniformity, 75 percent; injury tolerance 25 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

P3L Good Quality Lemon Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, weak color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 percent may be 

waste. 

P4L Fair Quality Lemon Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, pale color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 percent waste. 
29

P5L Low Quality Lemon Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, thin, lean in oil, pale color intensity. 

Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 40 percent waste. 

P2F Fine Quality Orange Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, oily, moderate color intensity.

Uniformity, 75 percent; injury tolerance 25 percent, of which not over 10 percent may be 

waste. 

P3F Good Quality Orange Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, weak color 

intensity. Uniformity, 70 percent; injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 20 

percent may be waste. 

P4F Fair Quality Orange Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, pale color 

intensity. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 30 percent waste. 

P5F Low Quality Orange Primings 

Prematurely ripe, open leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil, pale color 

intensity. Uniformity, 70 percent; tolerance, 40 percent waste. 

P4G Fair Quality Green Primings 

Immature, firm leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 30 percent waste. 

P5G Low Quality Green Primings 

Immature, firm leaf structure, medium body, lean in oil. Uniformity, 70 percent; 

tolerance, 40 percent waste.

Mixed (M Group). This group consists of tobacco from three or more groups or two distinctly

different groups which are mixed together in various combinations.

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances
30

M4FFair Quality Mixed Groups

Ripe, firm leaf structure, heavy, lean in oil. Injury tolerance 30 percent, of which 

not over 10 percent may be waste.

M5FLow Quality Mixed Groups

Ripe, firm leaf structure, heavy, lean in oil. Injury tolerance 40 percent, of which 

not over 20 percent may be waste.

M4KR Fair Quality Variegated Red or Scorched Mixed Groups

Ripe, firm leaf structure, fleshy, lean in oil. Injury tolerance 30 percent, of which 

not over 10 percent may be waste.

M4KMFair Quality Variegated Mixed Groups

Unripe, close leaf structure, heavy. Injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not over 

10 percent may be waste.

M5KMLow Quality Variegated Mixed Groups

Unripe, tight leaf structure, heavy. Injury tolerance 40 percent, of which not over 

20 percent may be waste.

M4GK Fair Quality Green Variegated Mixed Groups

Immature, close leaf structure, heavy. Injury tolerance 30 percent, of which not 

over 10 percent may be waste.

M5GK Low Quality Green Variegated Mixed Groups

Immature, tight leaf structure, heavy. Injury tolerance, 40 percent, of which not 

over 20 percent may be waste.
31

Nondescript (N Group). Extremely common tobacco which does not meet the minimum

specifications or which exceeds the tolerance of the lowest grade of any other group except

Scrap.

Grades Grade Names, Minimum Specifications, and Tolerances

N1L Best Nondescript from the P Group

Tolerance: 50 percent waste.

N1XL Best Nondescript from the X Group

Tolerance: 50 percent waste.

N1K Best Nondescript from the B or H Groups

Tolerance: 50 percent injury or waste.

N1R Best, Heavy, Dark-colored Nondescript from the B Group

Tolerance: 50 percent injury or waste.

N1KV Best, Variegated, Medium-bodied Greenish Nondescript from the B Group

Tolerance: 50 percent waste.

N1GL Best, Thin, Crude Green Nondescript from the P or X Groups 

Tolerance: 50 percent crude or waste.

N1GF Best, Fleshy, Medium-colored, Crude Green Nondescript from the B Group

Tolerance: 50 percent crude, injury or waste.

N1GR Best, Heavy, Dark-colored, Crude Green Nondescript from the B Group

Tolerance: 50 percent crude, injury or waste.

N1GG Best,Crude, Gray Green Nondescript from the B Group

 Tolerance: 50 percent crude, injury or waste.
32

N1PO Oxidized Tobacco from the P Group

Tolerance: 50 percent waste.

N1XO Tobacco from the X or C Groups

Tolerance: 50 percent waste.

N1BO Oxidized Tobacco from the B or H Groups

Tolerance: 50 percent injury or waste.

N2 Poorest Nondescript of any Group or Color

Tolerance: Over 50 percent crude, injury or waste; crude or green tobacco 

containing 10 percent or less of oxidized.

Scrap (S Group). A byproduct of stemmed and unstemmed tobacco. Scrap accumulates from

handling tobacco in farm buildings, warehouses, packing and conditioning plants, and stemmeries. 

Grade Grade Name and Specifications 

S Scrap. 

Loose, whole, or broken unstemmed leaves; or the web portion of tobacco leaves 

reduced to scrap by any process.

 
33

 SUMMARY OF STANDARD GRADES

 10 Grades of 

 23 Grades of Leaf Smoking Leaf 

B1L B1F B1FR H3F 

B2L B2F B2FR H4F H4FR H4K

B3L B3F B3FR B3K H5F H5FR H5K

B4L B4F B4FR B4K H6F H6FR H6K

B5L B5F B5FR B5R B5K

B6L B6F B6FR B6K

10 Grades 10 Grades 8 Grades 6 Grades 7 Grades of

of Cutters of Lugs of Primings of Greenish Variegated Mixed 

C1L C1F X1L X1F

C2L C2F X2L X2F P2L P2F

C3L C3F X3L X3F P3L P3F B3V X3V B3KM X3KM

C4L C4F X4L X4F P4L P4F B4V C4V X4V B4KM C4KM X4KM 

C5L C5F X5L X5F P5L P5F B5V B5KM

B6KM

 20 Grades of Variegated 7 Mixed Grades 

B3KL B3KF B3KD 

B4KL B4KF B4KD B4KV C4KL C4KF X4KL X4KF X4KV M4F M4KR M4KM M4GK

B5KL B5KF B5KD B5KV M5F M5KM M5GK

B6KL B6KF B6KD B6KV 

 

 6 Grades of 5 Grades of 

 Variegated Red Excessively

15 Grades of Green or Scorched Scorched 

 B3KR X3KR B3KK

B4G B4GK C4G C4GK X4G X4GK P4G B4KR C4KR X4KR B4KK C4KK

B5G B5GR B5GK B5GG X5G P5G B5KR B5KK

B6G B6GK B6KK

6 Grades 4 Grades of 2 Grades of 13 Grades 1 Grade

of Slick Whitish-Lemon Cutters (Primings Side) of Nondescript of Scrap

 

B3S X3S X3LL C5LP C5FP N1L N1KV N1GG S

B4S C4S X4S C4LL X4LL N1XL N1GL N1PO

B5S C5LL N1K N1GF N1XO

 N1R N1GR N1BO

N2
34

Special factors “U” (unsound), “W” (doubtful-keeping order), “S” (Strip), and “M” (Mixed) may be applied to all grades. The special

factors “dirt” or “sand” may be applied to any grade in the Primings group, including first quality Nondescript from the Primings group.

Tobacco not covered by the standard grades is designated “No - G,” “No - G - F,” or “No - G - Nested.”

KEY TO STANDARD GRADEMARKS

 Groups Qualities

B - Leaf 1 - Choice

H - Smoking Leaf 2 - Fine

C - Cutters 3 - Good

X - Lugs 4 - Fair

P - Primings 5 - Low

M - Mixed Group 6 - Poor

N - Nondescript

S - Scrap. 

 Color Symbols Combination Symbols 

 L - Lemon KL - Var. lemon XL - Lug side

LL - Whitish-lemon KF - Var. orange PO - Oxidized primings

 F - Orange KD - Var. dark red XO - Oxidixed lugs or cutters

FR - Orange red KV - Var. greenish BO - Oxidized smoking leaf

 R - Red KM - Var. mixed GL - Thin-bodied nondescript

 K - Variegated G - Green GF - Medium-bodied nondescript

KR - Variegated red or scorched GR - Green red LP - Lemon (Primings Side)

 V - Greenish GK - Green variegated FP - Orange (Primings Side)

GG - Gray green KK - Excessively Scorched

Special Symbol 

 S - Slick.