Abstract: A meter for measuring the dielectric constant of a predetermined amount of tobacco to determine the moisture content. The meter includes a sample holder with a capacitor to retain a predetermined amount of tobacco between the plates of the capacitor. A stable reference frequency, a phase comparator, and a voltage controlled oscillator are interconnected to form a phase-locked loop frequency controller. The voltage controlled oscillator is connected to the capacitor to detect a change in capacitance causing the oscillator to attempt to change frequency which in turn causes the output of the phase comparator to change and hold the circuit to the reference frequency. The phase comparator output is proportional to the moisture content of the tobacco. An indicator is responsive to the electrical output of the phase comparator to indicate the moisture content.