Seasonal and clonal variations in some major glycosidic bound volatiles in Kangra tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)

Seasonal and clonal variations in glycosidic bound volatile compounds were studied in tea clones representing the three different varieties viz. sinensis, assamica and cambodiensis grown in Kangra region. Glycosidic bound volatile compounds were characterised by GC–MS and quantification of major volatiles was done by GC. (E)-2-hexenal, benzyl alcohol, phenylethanol, linalool, linalool oxides, geraniol and methyl salicylate were the major glycosidic bound volatiles identified in tea shoot. Clonal variations in the quantity were observed in these bound volatiles. Seasonal variations were also observed in the quantity of bound volatiles in regional Kangra clone during three different growth flushes of tea. These variations in glycosidic precursors of volatile compounds were studied in context with orthodox made tea and its quality. These seasonal and clonal variations in precursors of volatile compounds can be directly correlated to the difference in the quality of tea made from these cultivars.     

Seasonal Variations in Quality of Kangra Tea ( Camellia sinensis(L) O Kuntze) in Himachal Pradesh

Periodic seasonal variations in infusion quality of orthodox Kangra tea over various growth flushes are reported. Theaflavins, thearubigins and caffeine recorded maximum content during early flush and gradual decline with progress in season, showing a minimum during main flush and slight improvement through backend flush. Flavour profile analysis also revealed qualitative and quantitative seasonal variations in aroma complex. High proportions of provisionally identified flavour components, linalool, geraniol, β-ionone, methyl salicylate, phenyl acetaldehyde, trans -2-hexenal, and several unidentified components with typical Kangra notes recorded during early flush exhibited comparatively lower contents or even total loss through main flush. Flavour quality also registered slight improvement in backend flush over main flush. Results suggest increasing crop productivity during early and backend flushes could enhance profitability.     

斯里兰卡红碎茶与滇红碎茶主要香气成分比较分析

目的 比较分析斯里兰卡红碎茶与滇红碎茶香气成分及含量的差异性,探明区分两地红碎茶差异的主要香气成分。方法 采用GC-MS法测定斯里兰卡红碎茶及滇红碎茶样品的香气成分,通过主成分分析法比较斯里兰卡红碎茶与滇红碎茶香气成分特征差异性,根据第一主成分贡献值大小,筛选出决定区分两地红碎茶差异的主要香气成分。结果 两地红碎茶样品共分析到香气化合物40种,以醛类、酮类、酯类、醇类为主,香气成分及含量相近,但略有差异。其中反-2-己烯醛、苯乙醇、香叶醇、壬醛香气成分滇红碎茶明显高于斯里兰卡红碎茶（高出80%以上）,分别高出110.00%、108.73%、93.64%、84.91%,二氢猕猴桃内酯、吲哚香气成分滇红碎茶明显低于斯里兰卡红碎茶（50%以上）,分别低至56.19%、52.38%。其中烯类香气成分滇红碎茶比斯里兰卡红碎茶高出最为明显,高出53.53%,吲哚类香气成分滇红碎茶比斯里兰卡红碎茶低出最为明显,低出52.48%。两类红碎茶中,水杨酸甲酯占比最高,在斯里兰卡红碎茶中最高可达26.60%,在滇红碎茶中最高可达29.79%。斯里兰卡红碎茶和滇红碎茶中,酯类和醇类含量最高,酯类在斯里兰卡红碎茶中最高可达34.38%,在滇红碎茶中最高可达35.69%,醇类在斯里兰卡红碎茶中最高可达32.48%,在滇红碎茶中最高可达34.84%。各香气成分中二氢猕猴桃内酯（C15）、反-戊酸-2-己烯酯（C29）最能代表斯里兰卡红碎茶香气特征,a-萜品醇（C30）、橙花醇（C40）最能代表滇红碎茶香气成分特征。结论 对香气成分进行分析,可明显区分斯里兰卡红碎茶与滇红碎茶特征。     

Effect of the withering process on volatile compound formation during black tea manufacture

The amount and composition of volatile compounds in the volatile oils were compared between non-withered tea and withered tea. Important differences in the aroma constituents were found in the amounts of E-2-hexenal, Z-3-hexanol ester, linalool and its oxides, and methylsalcylate. In withered teas, the amounts of Z-3-hexenol ester, linalool and its oxides, and methylsalcylate were much greater than in non-withered tea, but the E-2-hexenal content was higher in non-withered tea. From the results it was thought that the withering process has an important role in the formation of volatile compounds in tea shoots during black tea fermentation.     

The phenolic pigment composition of black tea liquors—part I: Predicting quality

The phenolic constituents of 95 black teas, representing nine countries, were analysed and assessed by HPLC. The procedure resolved 38 coloured phenolic components which were classified as theaflavins (4), thearubigins (23) and flavonol glycosides (11). The relative levels of these constituents were monitored by HPLC. One of the thearubigin constituents was unresolved chromatographically, but nevertheless quantified as a hump. The data set was statistically analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple regression PCA indicated that three of the quality attributes, quality/flavour, brightness/briskness and quality with milk, were strongly correlated with each other. The fourth attribute, colour/strength, was found to be the most effective in discriminating between teas, particularly between high strength teas from Assam and Tanzania and low strength teas from Sri Lanka and Malawi. Multiple regression was used to investigate the relationship between tasters' scores and the chemical constituents. The model established gives an R² of 63% based on six components; five resolved thearubigins and the unresolved thearubigin hump. These results indicate the potential to develop objective chemical assessment procedures for determining the quality of teas and is the first report of the flavour impact of individual thearubigins constituents.     

Comparison of black tea aromas of orthodox and CTC tea and of black teas made from different varieties

Volatile compounds obtained from orthodox black tea and CTC tea were analysed by a g.c.-m.s. method. A difference in the contents of cis-3-hexenol, linalool, linalool oxides, methylsalcylate and geraniol was found between the two types of tea. It was thought that the difference in the contents of volatile compounds might be produced by the individual manufacturing processes. A typical difference in the contents of linalool and geraniol was observed in volatile oils of black teas made from cultivars of v. assamica and hybrids of assamica and sinensis. The difference in the volatile compounds in black teas may be related to the genetic variation.     

红茶汁液态发酵生成的泡沫组成分析与调控

为明确红茶汁液态发酵过程中生成的泡沫组成,对通气发酵过程的泡沫进行分离,采用分光光度计和高效液相色谱仪分析茶多酚、氨基酸和茶皂素、儿茶素、茶黄素等非挥发性化合物,并采用顶空固相微萃取结合气相色谱-质谱联用技术分析挥发性化合物的含量分布。结果表明：红茶汁匀浆和通气过程产生的泡沫中茶皂素、茶多酚、咖啡碱、部分儿茶素和茶黄素的质量浓度较隔离泡沫的茶汁中高,挥发物总量和癸醛、柠檬醛、芳樟醇、香叶醇和β-紫罗兰酮5 种呈甜花香化合物,己醛、1-辛烯-3-醇、苯乙醛、水杨酸甲酯和(E)-2-己烯醛5 种呈青气化合物也有提高,这表明产生的泡沫会带走较多的品质成分。为保留品质成分,向红茶汁发酵液中添加消泡剂防止泡沫形成,发现体积分数0.2%的消泡剂可有效控制泡沫形成,对茶多酚、氨基酸的质量浓度无显著影响,对发酵进程无不利影响,而且可促进茶汁中挥发物的释放。     

Fingerprint of volatile flavour constituents and antioxidant activities of teas from Thailand

The volatile flavour components of different teas growing in Thailand were extracted using the simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) technique. These volatiles were investigated by GC–MS. At least 54 components representing 76.51–83.32% of all samples were identified. Hotrienol, geraniol and linalool were found to be the major components in Green Oolong tea. Green Assam tea contained linalool, geraniol and α-terpineol as the key flavour constituents. Chin Shin Oolong tea was dominated by linalool, indole and cis-jasmone whilst the major flavour volatiles of Chin Hsuan Oolong tea were trans-nerolidol, cis-jasmone and geraniol. Indole, geraniol and cis-jasmone were detected as the main constituents in Four Season tea. Change of quality and quantity of volatile flavour components was related to fermentation methods that increased volatiles were illustrated by the semi-fermented tea processing method. Green Assam tea infusion extract was evaluated to have the strongest antioxidant activities with the highest amount of phenol content followed by Four Season tea, Chin Shin Oolong tea, Chin Hsuan Oolong tea and Green Oolong tea, respectively.     

The impact of processing techniques on tea volatiles

The impact of various cultural and manufacturing techniques on volatile flavour composition was studied in order to optimize the conditions for production and retention of aroma in relation to tea quality. The Flavour Index was in the order: clonal variation—Assam > > Cambod > China Shoot maturity—Bud + 1st leaf > > > 2nd leaf > > 3rd leaf; plucking interval 7 day > 14 day; processing—green leaf > withered leaf—fermented dhool < dried tea < < tea brew; withering—soft < normal < hard. VFC Group I was in general dominated by trans-2-hexenal and Group II by linalool, phenylacetaldehyde and geraniol. Fresh green leaf had a high content of hexanol, hexanal, hexenol, hexenal and methyl salicylate. Upon withering, a sharp increase in Group I was noticed, the most remarkable being in hexenol. Group II also increased, but the extent was less except for linalool. During fermentation, Group I alcohols showed a sharp reduction with concomitant increases in aldehydes, especially trans-2-hexenal. In Group II, all compounds increased except methyl salicylate and the ionones. In the firing stage, high losses of Group I and Group II were registered. All the Group I compounds showed a decline with the progress of withering, but the opposite applied to Group II compounds, except for the alcohols. Mechanical injury during handling of leaf before cutting increased the Group I content enormously. The addition of exogenous fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid, produced substantial amounts of Group I compounds, dominated by trans-2-hexenal and hexanal. The inhibition of lipoxygenase totally reduced the formation of Group I volatiles.     

Variations in the leaf standard,chemical composition and quality of black tea (Camellia sinensis) due to plucking intervals

Green leaf standard, chemical composition and quality of black tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O Kuntze) change with plucking intervals. Long plucking intervals lead to poor leaf standard with a lot of mature leaves and lower theaflavins, the sum of volatile flavour compounds imparting a sweet flowery aroma (group II volatile flavour compounds), caffeine contents and tasters' evaluations of black tea. The sum of volatile flavour compounds imparting inferior, grassy, green flavour (group I volatile flavour compounds) to tea, however, increases with long plucking intervals.     

Effect of packing materials and storage time on volatile compounds in tea processed from flowers of black elder (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sambucus nigra</Emphasis> L.)

The effect of cultivar, packaging materials and storage time at 20 °C on volatile compounds in tea processed by gentle air-drying of flowers from the black elder cultivars Sampo, Sambu and Samyl was determined. Elderflower tea samples packed in bags of paper at normal pressure and in bags of plastic and aluminium at 99% vacuum were stored for up to 21 months and investigated for volatile compounds. Volatile compounds emitted from elderflower tea samples were collected by dynamic headspace technique (purge and trap) and analysed by GC–FID and GC–MS. A total of 56 volatile compounds were identified and quantified, including 10 aldehydes, 7 ketones, 21 alcohols, 1 phenol, 3 esters, 4 heterocycles, and 8 hydrocarbons being derivatives of fatty acids, amino acids, shikimic acid and/or of terpenoid origin. Packaging material and storage time had a significant effect on the content of volatile compounds and 15 volatile compounds disappeared partially or completely during processing and/or storage. Tea processed from flowers of the cultivars Sampo and Sambu and packed in plastic and aluminium bags had a satisfactory flavour and content of volatile compounds at least up to 3 months or more after processing, whereas all tea samples processed from Samyl had an unpleasant grassy off-flavour. The content of important volatile compounds with grassy notes such as hexanal, heptanal, and (Z)-3-hexen-l-ol were at the same level in all cultivars. However, the content of important elderflower volatiles with flowery, fruity and/or sweet notes such as linalool, hotrienol, and cis- and trans-rose oxide were significantly lower in Samyl compared to Sampo and Sambu, which to some extent may explain the differences in tea flavour between the stored elderflower tea samples.     

Comparison of the key aroma compounds in hand-squeezed and unpasteurised,commercial NFC juices prepared from Brazilian Pera Rio oranges

Application of a comparative aroma extract dilution analysis on a hand-squeezed (juice A) and an industrially squeezed, unpasteurised orange juice (juice B), revealed qualitatively almost the same set of odour-active compounds. However, while in juice A, vanillin, ethyl butanoate, wine lactone, (Z)-3-hexenal, (S)-ethyl 2-methylbutanoate and (S)-linalool were detected with the highest flavour dilution (FD) factors, in juice B prepared by means of an FMC extractor, several compounds, like (R)-limonene, (R)-α-pinene and octanal showed higher FD factors, in addition to ethyl butanoate, wine lactone and (S)-ethyl 2-methylbutanoate. Quantification of seventeen odorants in both juices by means of stable isotope dilution assays followed by a calculation of odour activity values (OAV; ratio of concentration to odour threshold) revealed a clear change in the ranking order: while (S)-ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, (R)-limonene, (Z)-3-hexenal and linalool were first in rank among the odorants of juice A, in juice B, (R)-limonene and (S)-linalool followed by (S)-ethyl 2-methylbutanoate showed the highest OAVs. Sensory experiments revealed that the much higher concentrations of the seven peel oil constituents, and the lack in (Z)-3-hexenal, are the reason for the aroma differences observed for both juices. Further experiments indicated that lowering the pressure during commercial juicing, and also the avoidance of a freezing/thawing process could be helpful in getting closer to the aroma of hand-squeezed orange juice, because peel oil constituents are lowered and, in particular, the latter procedure leads to a complete degradation of (Z)-3-hexenal.     

Comparison of gas chromatographic volatile profiling methods for assessing the flavour quality of kenyan black teas

A comparison is made of the various ratios used to quantify black tea aroma such as: ratio of sum of gas chromatographic peak areas of compounds eluting before linalool (3,7-dimethyl-1,6-Octadien-3-ol) to those eluting after linalool (Wickremasinghe-Yamanishi ratio); gas chromatographic peak areas of compounds imparting sweet flowery aroma (Group II volatile flavour compounds) to those imparting green grassy aroma (Group I volatile flavour compounds), Owuor's flavour index; ratio of the sum of gas chromatographic peak area of the terpenoids to non-terpenoids, i.e. Mahanta ratio; and gas chromatographic peak area of linalool to E-2-hexena1, i.e. Yamanishi-Botheju ratio. The Wickremasinghe-Yamanishi ratio and Owuor's flavour index showed a significant relationship, the Mahanta ratio showed a significant but poor relationship, and the Yamanishi-Botheju ratio had no relationship with the tasters evaluation of Kenyan clonal CTC black teas. Similar results were obtained from orthodox black teas manufactured from different varieties.     

Predication of Japanese green tea (Sen-cha) ranking by volatile profiling using gas chromatography mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis

The sensory quality ranking of Japanese green tea (Sen-cha) was evaluated and predicted using volatile profiling and multivariate data analyses. The volatile constituents were extracted from tea infusion using vacuum hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC/MS. A quality of green tea could be discriminated to a high or low grade regarding the volatile profile by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS–DA). A quality ranking predictive model was developed from the relationship between subjective attributes (sensory quality ranking) and objective attributes (volatile profile) using partial least squares projections to latent structures together with the preprocessing filtering technique, orthogonal signal correction (OSC). Several volatile compounds highly contributed to model prediction were identified as various odor-active compounds, including geraniol, indole, linalool, cis-jasmone, dihydroactinidiolide, 6-chloroindole, methyl jasmonate, coumarin, trans-geranylacetone, linalool oxides, 5,6-epoxy-β-ionone, phytol, and phenylethyl alcohol. The whole fingerprints of these volatile compounds could be possible markers for the overall quality evaluation of green tea beverage.     

不同区域祁门红茶品质特点分析

针对不同区域的祁门红茶,测定香气成分及茶多酚、氨基酸、可溶性糖、茶色素等主要物质的含量,结合感官审评对祁红的品质特点进行分析。结果表明,祁红的主要香气成分有：香叶醇、芳樟醇及其氧化物、苯甲醇、植醇、苯乙醛、2-己烯醛、十六酸等。这些主要香气成分的协调融合作用,赋予祁红的特征香型。祁红毛峰的香气以鲜、嫩甜为主体,而传统祁门工夫红茶则以高爽、馥郁的甜香为主体,代表了祁红不同产品种类的品质风格。不同级别（特茗、特级、一级）祁门工夫红茶香气成分组成大致相同,但含量差异较大。级别越高香气品质越好,香气的浓度与鲜爽度增加。茶红素、茶黄素、茶褐素平均含量特级茶最高,特茗次之,一级茶最低。茶多酚、氨基酸含量随茶叶级别的降低呈下降趋势,茶汤滋味的浓度和鲜爽度也不同程度的下降。但总体来说,不同区域的祁门红茶,尽管其香精油总量、香气成分相对含量以及生化成分含量高低不同,但其表现出的品质均符合祁门红茶的典型特征：具有祁门红茶香高味浓的品质特点,尤其是较高的可溶性糖含量,使得各级别祁门工夫红茶的滋味均呈现出甜醇的特色。     

Quality evaluation of black CTC teas based upon seasonal variations

Effects of seasonal variations on the colour and chemical constituents of Indian black tea were investigated. The experimentation involved collection of different black tea samples that were cultivated at the same tea garden but harvested in three different seasons. Measurement of moisture content was done along with theaflavins (TFs), thearubigins (TRs) and colour (CIE La*b* values) of the brewed tea liquor using spectrophotometric approach. The correlation analysis between chemical constituents, that is, TFs and TRs, moisture content, colour and quality grading was done by using principal component analysis (PCA). The results suggest that quality of tea is dependent upon seasonal variations in terms of chemical changes such as TFs, TRs and moisture content, which also correlate well with colour. The efficacy of the colour of brewed tea liquor in explaining the changes in tea quality due to seasonal variations can be beneficial for scientific fixation of prices at tea auction centres.     

基于品种差异的祁门红茶品质分析

为探究茶树品种对祁门红茶品质的影响,本试验选取种植于祁门产区的‘凫早2号’、‘舒茶早’2个茶树品种鲜叶,采用传统祁门红茶加工方法制成红茶样,并进行感官审评与理化分析。结果表明,2个品种红茶整体都表现出汤色红亮、甜香浓郁的祁门红茶特征品质,但2个品种红茶香气、滋味品质有明显差异。香气化合物分析表明,芳樟醇、顺-己酸-3-己烯酯、香叶醇、水杨酸甲酯、苯乙醇、2-己烯醛等香气化合物在2个红茶样中差异较大,可能是导致2个品种红茶香气品质差异的主要原因。‘舒茶早’红茶酯型儿茶素含量显著低于‘凫早2号’红茶(P<0.05),而咖啡碱及游离氨基酸含量则显著高于‘凫早2号’红茶(P<0.05),使其滋味醇厚度、鲜爽度高于‘凫早2号’红茶。综上,同产区内不同茶树品种加工的红茶,因其次级代谢产物的差异使得红茶风味不同。     

长江中下游产区红茶品质分析

针对长江中下游不同产茶区的红茶进行感官品质评价,结合理化成分和香气成分分析,提取滋味和香气品质相关特征信息。结果表明:长江中下游区域红茶在感官品质上呈现甜香、薯甜香、甜醇等香气、滋味等特征。品质成分中水浸出物、咖啡碱、萜烯醇含量均较高,大部分产区茶红素与茶黄素的比例为1:10~1:13之间,是长江中下游区域红茶汤色红亮、滋味醇厚、甜香持久的物质基础。其中湖北茶区红茶的可溶性糖、茶红素等含量较高,是茶汤红亮、滋味甜醇的物质基础,湖南茶区红茶的水浸出物、茶多酚、咖啡碱、黄酮、儿茶素总量、茶黄素及茶红素含量较高,是其茶汤深红、滋味浓厚的物质基础;浙江、安徽茶区红茶的氨基酸和可溶性糖含量较高,是其茶汤甜醇的物质基础。醇类和醛类是主要的香气化合物,芳樟醇、氧化芳樟醇、香叶醇、苯甲醛、苯乙醛、2-甲基丁醛、2-己烯醛、β-环柠檬醛、水杨酸甲酯和β-紫罗酮等共同构成了红茶甜香、糖香及花香的物质基础,另外2-正戊基呋喃、2-乙基呋喃和1-乙基-2-甲酰吡咯呈现坚果、焦香等风味,对红茶的焦糖香形成有着直接影响。     

云南红茶加工过程中香气成分的变化

为提高云南红茶品质和指导实际生产,采用同时蒸馏萃取法(SDE)提取香气物质并用GC-MS检测香气成分,研究加工过程中云南工夫红茶主要香气成分组成的变化规律。结果表明:云南工夫红茶在发酵结束后挥发油含量达到最高,经过干燥过程后挥发油含量则大幅降低;不同阶段过程样的香气成分组成和含量上有明显差异;红茶在加工过程中,挥发性香气成分中的萜类化合物中的芳樟醇、芳樟醇氧化物、α-松油醇的相对含量大幅减少,而醛类化合物中的苯甲醛、苯乙醛,芳香族醇类化合物中的苯甲醇、苯乙醇的相对含量则大幅增加。萎凋、发酵、干燥工序是影响红茶香气形成的关键工序,对云南红茶香气的形成至关重要。