Influence of region of production on clonal black tea chemical characteristics

Production of black tea from the same vegetatively propagated (VP) cultivars, in Kenya and Malawi, shows variations in both chemical composition and quality. Whereas it is possible to produce black teas with similar total theaflavins and individual theaflavins, brightness and total colour levels, black teas from Kenya generally have higher thearubigins, total volatile flavour compounds and flavour index. The black tea fermentation process is much faster in Malawi compared to that in Kenya, as evidenced by faster production of plain black tea chemical parameters, especially theaflavins. Consequently, in Malawi the maximum amount of theaflavins formation takes a shorter fermentation duration than in Kenya. Given ample fermentation duration, fermentation in Kenya produces a similar amount of theaflavins. This makes it necessary to optimise fermentation time, in different geographical regions even when the same cultivar is being processed. The other plain black tea quality parameters (thearubigins, brightness and total colour) were higher in black tea which was processed in Kenya than those processed in Malawi. However, the pattern in the changes in the individual theaflavins or theaflavins digallate equivalent followed that of total (Flavognost) theaflavins, suggesting that the flavan-3-ols patterns in tea leaf might not have been affected by the geographical area of production. The total volatile flavour compounds (VFC), Group I and II VFC and the flavour index were higher in black teas processed in Kenya, further demonstrating the fact that high grown Kenyan teas are more flavoury. In both Kenya and Malawi black teas, aroma quality declined with a long duration of fermentation. Short fermentation time is therefore a method of producing more aromatic black teas. The variations in black tea quality between Malawi and Kenya were possibly due to difference in environmental conditions, leading to different shoot growth rates and biochemical composition in the shoots.     

基于单宁酶处理原料制备的高茶黄素速溶红茶品质分析

目的 研究基于单宁酶发酵加工的红茶原料,制备高茶黄素含量的速溶红茶。方法 以速溶红茶中的茶黄素含量为主要评价指标,对红茶原料进行两种提取溶剂处理和不同茶叶状态,即茶叶和茶叶磨碎样处理,同时分析其感官品质及其它化学成分含量。结果 本研究发现用60%乙醇提取工艺制备的速溶红茶中,茶黄素含量显著高于水提取工艺,茶叶状态则是茶粉原料浸提效果显著高于茶叶原料浸提效果,且速溶红茶中茶黄素含量达到2.3%,是传统红茶原料中茶黄素的3倍,速溶红茶得率达到了38%。结论 以高茶黄素茶叶为原料,并将其磨成粉,用60%乙醇提取作为提取剂制备速溶红茶,其制备的速溶红茶富含茶黄素,为速溶茶的生产加工提供了一定的理论依据,也可以为夏秋茶资源的开发利用提供新方法。     

The relationship between some chemical parameters and sensory evaluations for plain black tea (Camellia sinensis) produced in Kenya and comparison with similar teas from Malawi and South Africa

Reliable and accurately measurable chemical parameters that can be used to estimate black tea quality are desirable in trade, research and breeding programmes. Using plain Kenyan black tea from 11 cultivars, which gave some significant differences in their plain black tea quality parameters, the individual theaflavins composition, total theaflavins, thearubigins, theaflavin digallate equivalent, total colour and brightness were determined. The parameters were regressed against sensory evaluation scores of two tasters A and B. The theaflavin digallate equivalent (TDE) showed the strongest relationship (r = 0.71 (P ? 0.01) and r = 0.80 (P ? 0.001)) for A and B′, respectively. The simple (non gallated) theaflavin and thearubigins did not show significant relationships with sensory evaluation. Of the liquor characteristics, there were significant relationships between liquor brightness and sensory evaluation by A and B (r = 0.58 (P ? 0.06) and r = 0.59 (P ? 0.05)), respectively. In consequence, TDE and brightness can be used in tea breeding programmes as quality indicators or to estimate plain black tea quality potential in the tea trade. Optimising their levels can also help to produce good quality Kenyan black teas during processing. Comparison of these results with work published earlier indicates that, of the individual theaflavins, theaflavin-3,3′-digallate correlates best with tea taster scores for the 11 Kenyan cultivars, whereas the simple theaflavin correlates best with tea tasters’ scores for 40 Malawian cultivars. However, the derived parameter, TDE correlates very well with tea tasters’ scores for all of the above cultivars.     

Seasonal variations in theaflavins,thearubigins, total colour and brightness of Kangra orthodox tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O Kuntze) in Himachal Pradesh

Variations in theaflavins, thearubigins, total colour and brightness of orthodox black tea were studied for four consecutive years (1993–1996) with a view to evaluating the effects of changing weather conditions on the quality of Kangra tea. A degree of withering of 600–650 mg g⁻¹ during the first, second and fourth seasons was optimal for the development of significantly higher brightness and total colour characteristics. The quality of rainy season teas suffered owing to high chlorophyll content and low degree of withering. Hot air circulation through the withering troughs to assist evaporation of leaf moisture increased the brightness and total colour of rainy season teas. High atmospheric demand during the dry season assisted loss of green leaf moisture, but withering and brightness exhibited significant negative correlations with high relative humidity and rainfall. Summer season teas were superior in their total colour and brightness. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

The response of quality and yield of black tea of twocamellia sinensis varieties to methods and intervals of harvesting

The sensory evaluation and chemical quality parameters of black teas changed with variety, plucking round length and method of plucking. Hand plucked teas had higher theaflavins (TF), caffeine, brightness, flavour index. Group II volatile flavour compounds (VFC) and sensory evaluations, but lower Group I VFC than shear plucked teas irrespective of variety. Black teas plucked from short plucking rounds were superior to those from long plucking rounds as assessed by TF, caffeine, brightness, the chemical aroma quality parameters and sensory evaluation. Long plucking intervals and shear plucking reduced tea yields and produced coarser leaf than short plucking intervals and hand plucking respectively.     

The Impact of Withering Temperature on Black Tea Quality

High leaf temperatures during the withering process of black tea manufacture decrease the theaflavins, brightness, flavour index and sensory evaluation scores of black tea. Black teas manufactured with withering temperature above 30°C have high thearubigins and total colour levels but lack briskness. Results suggest a need to control temperatures below 30°C during withering.     

工夫红茶品质分析与综合评价

为探究中国工夫红茶主要品质成分含量特征,建立茶汤滋味品质综合评价方法。对17 个国内主产茶区工夫红茶的多酚类、氨基酸、茶色素类、香气组分等品质指标进行测定,运用主成分分析、聚类分析和偏最小二乘-判别分析（partial least squares-discrimination analysis,PLS-DA）对其品质进行综合评价。结果表明：不同产区工夫红茶的品质成分组成与含量存在明显差异,多酚类及其氧化产物是主要的品质成分,茶黄素和茶红素之和与茶褐素的比值为1.05～1.12,是其滋味鲜醇、汤色红亮的物质基础;英红、海红、信阳红、宜红、越红、黔红和祁红的可溶性糖质量分数均高于4%,是其茶汤甜醇滋味的重要物质基础;黄酮在大叶种红茶（滇红、英红和海红）中的质量分数较高且大于2.7%。醇类和醛类是主要的香气化合物,尤其是呈现甜香、花香的萜烯醇含量较高。利用主成分分析法建立滋味品质评价模型,该预测模型对红茶滋味品质评价结果与感官审评结果较为相似,存在极显著相关（P＜0.01）,相关系数为0.735;茶黄素和茶多酚含量是进行工夫红茶品质分析的重要指标。系统聚类分析显示闽红自为一类,滇红、英红和海红等大叶种红茶聚为一类,其他中小叶种红茶聚为一类。PLS-DA可将2 类不同品种工夫红茶明显区分,并获得8 种差异性指标,尤其是芳樟醇、香叶醇和己醛等,可作为区分大叶种和中小叶种工夫红茶的指标物质。该研究丰富了工夫红茶风味品质的基础理论,同时为红茶品质的科学评价提供新的思路和方法。     

Determination of alkaloids and phenolic compounds in black tea processed by two different methods in different plucking seasons

The effects of two different rolling methods and three tea plucking seasons on alkaloids and phenolics, mainly flavan‐3‐ols and theaflavins, in black tea were studied using an improved high‐performance liquid chromatographic method. Better separation of all tea compounds analyzed—the most important factor for their identification and quantitation—was achieved only with long elution gradients, which overcame the limitations of previously reported methods. Precision of the assay method was very high since intra‐day and inter‐day variations were within 0.76% and 1.66%, respectively. All analytes exhibited good linearity over the range evaluated with a correlation coefficient of 0.9987–1.000. Among the four solvents evaluated, 80% methanol was the most solvent for extracting individual tea compounds. The extraction method applied exhibited good repeatability (CV: 0.39–3.29%). The content of tea compounds analyzed varied with processing method and plucking season. Teas processed using the Cay‐Kur method contained higher levels of identified phenolic compounds than orthodox teas, but their alkaloid content was similar to each other. The most abundant alkaloid in teas was caffeine, ranging from 17.84 mg g^?1 dry weight in September plucking to 23.79 mg g^?1 dry weight in May plucking. With respect to phenolic compounds, theaflavins were at the highest level, 14.27 mg g^?1 dry weight, in Cay‐Kur tea processed in May. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of the taste contribution of theaflavins in black tea infusions using the taste activity concept

The contribution of theaflavins to the astringent taste of black tea infusions has been investigated. The major benzotropolons theaflavin, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3,3-digallate, and theaflavic acid were synthetically prepared by enzymatic oxidation of binary mixtures of the corresponding flavan-3-ols, purified by high-speed countercurrent chromatography, and then sensorially evaluated by means of a comparative duo test. The sensory analysis revealed that the theaflavins imparted a mouth-coating, astringent, and long-lasting oral sensation at the very back of the throat, and demonstrated the theaflavins to have by far lower oral thresholds than the astringent catechins; for example, the threshold concentration of theaflavin (0.016 mmol/L) is by a factor of 33 and 58 lower than those of its precursors epigallocatechin and epicatechin, respectively. In order to study the importance of these theaflavins as contributors to tea astringency, these benzotropolons were quantified in tea infusions and taste activity values were calculated from the quotient of their concentration in tea and their taste detection thresholds. Relating the taste activity values of the individual theaflavins to the overall astringency of the teas revealed that the theaflavins accounted for less than 0.1% of the overall astringency of the teas investigated. In consequence, the theaflavin concentration seems not to be a suitable measure for taste quality of tea infusions.     

4种乌龙茶树鲜叶适制绿茶、黄茶、白茶、红茶可行性研究

选用‘毛蟹’、‘丹桂’、‘九龙袍’、‘矮脚乌龙’4个乌龙茶树品种新梢为原料,分别蒸青固样并加工成绿茶、黄茶、白茶、红茶。所制茶样通过感官审评和生化成分分析,分析其茶类适制性。结果表明:用‘毛蟹’试制的绿茶,其氨基酸含量在4个品种中最高,为2.02%,酯型儿茶素含量为10.27%,仅低于九龙袍;用‘毛蟹’试制的黄茶,其水浸出物含量、氨基酸含量和咖啡碱含量分别为40.91%、2.13%、3.96%,均高于其它3个品种;用‘毛蟹’试制的白茶,其水浸出物含量在4个品种中最高,为44.32%,茶多酚含量为24.28%,仅低于矮脚乌龙;用‘矮脚乌龙’试制的红茶,其水浸出物含量、茶多酚含量、儿茶素总量和茶黄素含量均为4个品种中最高,分别为40.17%、23.34%、3.18%、0.42%。感官审评结果表明,‘毛蟹’制绿茶、黄茶和白茶品质均优,‘矮脚乌龙’制红茶品质优,‘丹桂’制白茶品质较优。综上,‘毛蟹’品种茶类适制性强,适制绿茶、黄茶和白茶,‘矮脚乌龙’适制红茶,‘丹桂’适制白茶。     

HPLC Analysis of Catechins, Theaflavins, and Alkaloids in Commercial Teas and Green Tea Dietary Supplements: Comparison of Water and 80% Ethanol/Water Extracts

ABSTRACT:  To help meet the needs of consumers, producers of dietary tea supplements, and researchers for information on health-promoting tea compounds, we compared the following conditions for the extraction of tea leaves and green tea-containing dietary supplements: 80% ethanol/water at 60 °C for 15 min and boiled water for 5 min. The following 7 catechins, 4 theaflavins, and 3 alkaloids were separated in a 70-min single HPLC analysis: (−)-epigallocatechin, (−)-catechin, (+)-epicatechin, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, (−)–gallocatechin-3-gallate, (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate, (−)-catechin-3-gallate, theaflavin, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3'-gallate, theaflavin-3,3'-digallate, caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. The following ranges of concentrations of flavonoids (catechins plus theaflavins) in the tea leaves extracted with 80% ethanol were observed (in mg/g): in 32 black teas, 19.8 to 115.1; in 24 green teas, 12.3 to 136.3; in 14 specialty teas, 4.9 to 118.5; in 7 herbal teas, 0 to 46.0. Total alkaloids in all teas ranged from 0 to 32.6 mg/g. Significantly greater amounts of flavonoids were extracted from the tea leaves with aqueous ethanol than with boiled water. Levels of tea catechins in 10 capsules sold as dietary supplements were about 50 to 75% lower than the amounts listed on the labels. Catechin content of 4 commercial green tea extracts ranged from 96 to 696 mg/g. The results make it possible to maximize the extraction of tea compounds to better relate the flavonoid and alkaloid content of teas and dietary tea supplements to their health-promoting effects.     

不同贮藏年份蜜兰香型岭头单丛茶抗氧化成分及抗氧化活性

测定了贮藏5、10、15、20年和2016年制作(实验当年做为对照)的蜜兰香型岭头单丛茶中茶多酚、黄酮、游离氨基酸、茶黄素、儿茶素和咖啡碱等几种抗氧化成分的含量及其抗氧化活性,并研究了两者之间的相关性。结果表明:在20年贮期内,随着贮藏时间的延长,蜜兰香型岭头单丛茶的茶多酚、黄酮和儿茶素含量上升,游离氨基酸和咖啡碱含量下降,茶黄素含量先上升后下降。不同贮藏年份的岭头单丛茶清除DPPH自由基和羟自由基的能力,抑制超氧阴离子自由基的能力及还原力均有差异,通过综合指数(APC)评价抗氧化能力结果可知:抗氧化活性贮藏20年>10年>15年>5年>对照。单丛茶水提物对DPPH自由基和羟基自由基的清除能力与茶多酚、黄酮、儿茶素的含量呈显著性正相关(p<0.05)。还原能力和抑制超氧阴离子自由基能力与各抗氧化成分之间相关性不显著(p>0.05)。     

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.     

Characterization of anthocyanins in Kenyan teas: Extraction and identification

Characterization and quantification of anthocyanins in selected tea cultivars processed into black (aerated) and green (unaerated) tea products was carried out in this study. The anthocyanins were extracted from tea products processed from a number of newly bred purple leaf coloured Kenyan tea cultivars (Camellia sinensis) using acidified methanol/HCl (99:1 v/v). Extracted anthocyanins were purified by C₁₈ solid phase extraction (SPE) catridges and characterised by HPLC-UV-Visible. They were identified according to their HPLC retention times, elution order and comparison with authentic standards that were available. Total monomeric anthocyanins were determined by the pH-differential method. Although the tea cultivars gave different yields of anthocyanins, the unaerated (green) teas had significantly (p ? 0.05) higher anthocyanin content than the aerated (black) teas. This was attributed to the degradation of anthocyanins by polyphenol oxidase products (catechin O-quinones) formed during the auto-oxidation (fermentation) process of black tea manufacture. Of the six most common natural anthocyanidins, five were identified in the purified extracts from purple leaf coloured tea, in both aerated (black) and unaerated (green) teas namely; delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, peonidin and malvidin. The most predominant anthocyanidin was malvidin in both tea products. In addition, two anthocyanins namely, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were also identified. Tea catechins were also identified in the tea products derived from the purple coloured tea cultivars namely, epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin (+C), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG). Correlation between the total catechins versus the total anthocyanins and anthocyanin concentration in unaerated teas revealed significant negative correlations (r = −0.723^∗ and r = −0.743^∗∗, p ? 0.05 and p ? 0.01, respectively). However, in aerated (black) tea the correlations were insignificant (r = −0.182 and r = −0.241, p > 0.05).     

Impact of shoot maturity on chlorophyll content,composition of volatile flavour compounds and plain black tea chemical quality parameters of clonal leaf

Chlorophyll content in black teas increased with a rise in shoot maturity, while the theaflavin content, brightness, total colour and tasters' evaluation declined. The increase in chlorophyll content in black teas of clone S15/10 was in a parallel with the greenness of the black tea infusions as described by tea tasters. These relationships were less pronounced in clone 6/8. The thearubigins content and the individual volatile flavour compounds composition in black tea remained the same or declined with increased shoot maturity, respectively. The results suggest that the impact of chlorophyll content on black tea quality is clonal dependent and becomes more significant as tea shoots mature and when the other plain black tea chemical quality parameters are low.     

On-line high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds in green and black tea

Teas represent a rich source of dietary antioxidants. This paper describes analysis of the antioxidant potential of individual tea phenolics using an on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Tea phenolics from Kenyan green and black teas were identified using liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry (LC-MS(n)) in conjunction with the analysis of their 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+) radical scavenging ability. Antioxidant potential of flavan-3-ols, caffeoylquinic acids, flavonols, and theaflavins was assessed in comparison to the synthetic vitamin E analogue Trolox. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate was identified as the most potent antioxidant with a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) value of 3.0, contributing approximately 30% of the total antioxidant capacity of green tea. Theaflavins retained antioxidant capacity similar to that of (-)-epicatechin monomers whilst conjugated flavonols did not contribute significantly to the antioxidant capacity of either green or black tea. After HPLC analysis of the antioxidant capacity of phenolics in black tea some 80% of antioxidant activity remained unaccounted for indicating the potential importance of thearubigens as antioxidants in black teas.     

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.     

不同茶类陈年茶的生化成分分析及其抗氧化活性

本文研究了三个不同茶类陈年茶的生化成分及其抗氧化活性。采用比色法测定了这些茶样中水浸出物、茶多酚、总黄酮、可溶性总糖、游离氨基酸、茶黄素、茶红素及茶褐素的含量,同时采用高效液相色谱仪测定了这些陈年茶样中没食子酸、儿茶素单体及咖啡碱含量,采用FRAP法测定了其总抗氧化能力。结果显示不同茶类陈年茶样中主要品质生化成分含量相差较大,同一茶类不同品种或产地的陈年老茶样中主要品质生化成分含量也有差别。三个不同茶类供试茶样中EGC均未检出;陈年红茶样中GC和CG未检出;陈年乌龙茶样中GC和EGCG含量显著高于其他茶叶;陈年黑茶样中GA含量普遍较低,滇药香熟普砖茶中各儿茶素组分均未检出。不同茶类陈年茶样总抗氧化能力相差较大,其中以陈年千家寨生普散茶的抗氧化能力最强,且它的抗氧化活性与其茶多酚和儿茶素总含量呈浓度依赖关系。     

The analysis by HPLC of green,black and Pu'er teas produced in Yunnan

Samples of tea (Quingmao, steamed, black and Pu'er) produced in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, from the locally characteristic large-leaved Camellia sinensis, have been brewed and the brews analysed for their contents of flavonol glycosides, flavan-3-ols and their oxidation products. Several samples of Pu'er tea manufactured in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s were also examined. The brews prepared from Quingmao tea and steamed green tea leaf were very similar containing primarily flavan-3-ols accompanied by flavonol glycosides, theogallin and gallic acid. The profile of flavanols was unusual, being dominated by (?)-epicatechingallate (rather than (?)-epigallocatechingallate) and by an unusually large (+)-catechin content. The brew of the equivalent black tea retained significant amounts of residual flavanols (particularly (?)-epicatechingallate and (+)-catechin), and contained significant amounts of thearubigins, theaflavic acids and theaflavins (including the less common analogues probably derived from the oxidation of (+)-catechin). The brews prepared from the Puer teas were distinguishable from the black tea brew by the absence of theaflavins and theaflavic acids, and by much smaller residues of flavanois and flavonol glycosides. The contents of thearubigins varied considerably whereas those of gallic acid were similar.     

江西省丘陵红壤地区主栽茶树品种的工夫红茶适制性研究

目的 为研究江西丘陵红壤地区主要栽培茶树品种的红茶适制性。方法 对比分析了当地主要栽培的8个茶树品种的鲜叶原料和成品红茶的发酵性能、品质成分及感官品质等指标。结果 8个品种所制的红茶的(茶黄素+茶红茶)/茶褐素的比值为1.15~1.61间,要明显高于国内主产区红茶的比值(一般认为为1.02~1.12),8个品种均能按红茶加工工序制成品质优良的红茶,赣茶14号品质最优,其次为金观音、黄观音茶树品种。结论 从发酵性能、香气成分检测以及茶叶感官审评等方面也能得到相同的结论。说明江西引种的茶树品种制红茶品质独特,适宜开发成工夫红茶。