A comparative analysis of the microbiome of cigars produced in the Caribbean and China
Fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves involves intense microbial activity, and hence microorganisms have a major impact on the quality and flavour of cigars. However, research on the correlation between microbial community and sensory quality of cigars remains inconclusive. In this study, a comparative analysis of the microbial profiles of five Caribbean- and five Chinese-produced cigar products was conducted to reveal significant differences in the microbiome of cigars from two origins, potentially accounting for the variance in their quality and flavour. Our findings indicated that Chinese cigars supported a more diverse array of microorganisms compared to Caribbean counterparts, as evidenced by higher indices of alpha and beta diversity. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the genus Staphylococcus was predominant in Caribbean cigars, representing over half of the bacterial population. In contrast, Staphylococcus comprised approximately 30% of the bacterial community in most Chinese cigar samples. Furthermore, a clear distinction of function prediction between Caribbean and Chinese cigars implied chemical biotransformation of cigar tobacco leaves under the influence of microbial communities. Subsequent comprehensive statistical analysis of the correlation between the microbiome and sensory quality of cigars suggested that certain bacterial species may be critical in shaping the flavour profile of cigars. Together, these insights indicated that the core microbiome of Caribbean and Chinese cigars was different, with each product exhibiting its characteristic bacterial genera. The unique genera presented in the core microbiome of Caribbean cigars could provide a novel perspective on the bioaugmentation fermentation of Chinese cigars.