In this study, the tar compounds derived from the plant cell cultures of Taxus chinensis were first identified and then quantified via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography (GC). 2-Picoline, 2,5-xylenol, acenaphthene, 1-methylnaphthalene and o-xylene were found to be the major tar compounds by biomass. These compounds were identified and confirmed by comparing their retention times with those of authentic compounds. Each compound also spiked with the pure standard. The contents of 2-picoline, 2,5-xylenol, acenaphthene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and o-xylene in biomass were 0.2512, 0.1586, 0.1240, 0.0942 and 0.0525 wt%, respectively. Liquid-liquid extraction and adsorbent treatment were able to remove 42% and 94% of the tars from biomass, respectivly. After hexane precipitation, all of the tars were perfectly removed.