Distribution of Catechins, Theaflavins, Caffeine, and Theobromine in 77 Teas Consumed in the United States

ABSTRACT: To help define the composition of commercial teas consumed in the United States, we have developed and validated an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to analyze levels of catechins, theaflavins, and alkaloids in 77 commercial black, green, specialty (brown rice, white, oolong), and herbal teas extracted with hot water to simulate home use. The following 13 compounds were separated in a single analysis on an Inertsil ODS-3v column with acetonitrile/potassium dihydrogen phosphate as the mobile phase: (−)-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, and theobromine. The data show that (1) extraction time from 3 min to 20 min did not significantly affect measured levels of tea compounds and (2) there was a wide variation in the composition of the tea compounds both within each tea category and among categories: black teas contained both theaflavins and catechins, green and white teas contained catechins and trace amounts of theaflavins, herbal teas contained very low amounts of all tea compounds. A statistical profile of the distribution of catechins, theaflavins, caffeine, and theobromine in the evaluated teas offers consumers a choice of teas containing high levels of health-promoting compounds.     

Antimicrobial activities of tea catechins and theaflavins and tea extracts against Bacillus cereus

We evaluated the antimicrobial activities of seven green tea catechins and four black tea theaflavins, generally referred to as flavonoids, as well as the aqueous extracts (infusions) of 36 commercial black, green, oolong, white, and herbal teas against Bacillus cereus (strain RM3190) incubated at 21 degrees C for 3, 15, 30, and 60 min. The results obtained demonstrate that (i) (-)-gallocatechin-3-gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, (-)-catechin-3-gallate, (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3, 3'-digallate, theaflavin-3'-gallate, and theaflavin-3-gallate showed antimicrobial activities at nanomolar levels; (ii) most compounds were more active than were medicinal antibiotics, such as tetracycline or vancomycin, at comparable concentrations; (iii) the bactericidal activities of the teas could be accounted for by the levels of catechins and theaflavins as determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography; (iv) freshly prepared tea infusions were more active than day-old teas; and (v) tea catechins without gallate side chains, gallic acid and the alkaloids caffeine and theobromine also present in teas, and herbal (chamomile and peppermint) teas that contain no flavonoids are all inactive. These studies extend our knowledge about the antimicrobial effects of food ingredients.     

Stability of Green Tea Catechins in Commercial Tea Leaves during Storage for 6 Months

ABSTRACT:  To help meet the needs of consumers, producers of dietary tea products, and researchers for information on health-promoting tea ingredients, we determined by HPLC 7 catechins [(−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-catechin (C), (+)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), (−)-gallocatechin 3-gallate (GCG), (−)-epicatechin 3-gallate (ECG), and (−)-catechin 3-gallate (CG)] in samples of 8 commercial green tea leaves of unknown history sold as tea bags in the United States, Korea, and Japan. The samples were stored at 20 °C and sampled at 1 wk and 1, 2, 4, and 6 mo. The following ranges in the initial values (0 controls) were observed (in mg/g tea leaves): EGC and C, 0 to trace amounts; EC, 1.9 to 21.1; EGCG, 13.3 to 113.0; GCG, 0.2 to 1.6; ECG, 5.7 to 50.5; CG 0.5 to 3.7; total catechins 36.5 to 169.7. Statistical analysis of the results and plots of changes in individual and total catechin levels as a function of storage time indicate a progressive decrease in the content in the total levels, most of which is due to losses in the most abundant catechins, EGCG and ECG. Possible mechanisms of degradations of catechins during storage and the possible significance of the results to consumers of tea are discussed.     

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.     

Overview of antibacterial, antitoxin, antiviral, and antifungal activities of tea flavonoids and teas

Tea leaves produce organic compounds that may be involved in the defense of the plants against invading pathogens including insects, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These metabolites include polyphenolic compounds, the six so-called catechins, and the methyl-xanthine alkaloids caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. Postharvest inactivation of phenol oxidases in green tea leaves prevents oxidation of the catechins, whereas postharvest enzyme-catalyzed oxidation (fermentation) of catechins in tea leaves results in the formation of four theaflavins as well as polymeric thearubigins. These substances impart the black color to black teas. Black and partly fermented oolong teas contain both classes of phenolic compounds. A need exists to develop a better understanding of the roles of polyphenolic tea compounds in food and medical microbiology. This overview surveys and interprets our present knowledge of activities of tea flavonoids and teas against foodborne and other pathogenic bacteria, virulent protein toxins produced by some of the bacteria, virulent bacteriophages, pathogenic viruses and fungi. Also covered are synergistic, mechanistic, and bioavailability aspects of the antimicrobial effects. Further research is suggested for each of these categories. The herein described findings are not only of fundamental interest, but also have practical implications for nutrition, food safety, and animal and human health.     

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF GREEN TEA CATECHINS IN A β-CAROTENE-LINOLEATE MODEL SYSTEM

A crude mixture of catechins was isolated from Chinese green tea leaves using a hot water extraction. Individual catechins were then separated by chromatographic means using Sephadex LH-20 followed by semi-preparative HPLC. The antioxidant activity of crude and individual catechins was then determined in a β-carotene-linoleate model system. Results indicated that (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) possessed the strongest antioxidative activity and (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC) showed the weakest effect. The antioxidative efficacy of (−)-epicatechin (EC) and (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was similar and in between those of ECG and EGC. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of a reconstituted catechin mixture in the proportions present in the crude extract was lower than that of the crude mixture itself, thus indicating that noncatechin components in the mixture possessed their own antioxidant activity or acted synergistically with the catechins.     

Simultaneous determination of theanine,gallic acid,purine alkaloids,catechins, and theaflavins in black tea using HPLC

In the present study, we employed high performance liquid chromatography with an amide‐C₁₆ column to determine the eighteen major active ingredients in black tea, including theanine, gallic acid, four purine alkaloids, eight catechins and four theaflavins. The method was successfully used to analyse two new kinds of black teas from the leaves of Camellia ptilophylla and Camellia kucha in China and several other world‐ famous black teas. Forty percentage ethanol was chosen as the extraction solvent for preparing tea extracts. All of the eighteen compounds could be separated within 86 min with a gradient elution system. Excellent linearity was observed for all the standard calibration curves, and correlation coefficients were above 0.9991. The developed method is accurate and sensitive enough for the determination of active components in black tea.     

ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF THEAFLAVINS AND EPITHEAFLAVIC ACID FROM TEA CATECHINS AND THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

A number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that black tea polyphenols have significant biological activities, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anticancer activity. The theaflavins have received attention as one of responsible components for biological activities of black tea. However, little information is available for the biological activity of individual theaflavins and minor components in black tea. In the present study, theaflavins and epitheqflavic acid were synthesized from their parent flavan-3-ols catechins using an enzymatic oxidation method and employing crude polyphenol oxidase from banana fruit. The compounds were isolated using column chromatographic methods, and their structures confirmed by ¹H-NMR and APCI-MS. The peroxyl radical scavenging activities of theaflavins and epitheaflavic acids were measured using a modified ORAC method. The results indicated that theaflavins have higher peroxyl radical scavenging activity than EGCG. The hierarchy of radical scavenging activity of theaflavins, epitheaflavic acid and related compounds were in the order of: theaflavin-3, 3'-digallate ∼ theflavin-3-gallate ∼ theaflavin-3'-gallate ∼ theaflavin > epitheaflavic acid > EGCG > purpurogallin.     

ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITY OF GREEN TEA POLYPHENOLS IN EDIBLE OILS

The antioxidant activity of green tea polyphenols in several edible oils and fried noodle was investigated. The green tea polyphenols consisted of 27.1% (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, 19.3% (+)-gallocatechin, 16.7% (−)-gallocatechin-3-gallate, 16.1% (−)-epigallocatechin, 8.1% (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate, 7.5% (−)-epicatechin, and 5.2% (+)-catechin. The antioxidant effect of green tea polyphenols in lard and soybean oil was dose-dependent, but tocopherol was less effective. Compared to BHA and tocopherol, green tea polyphenols showed a stronger antioxidative activity on fish oil. Noodles were fried in lard containing green tea polyphenols at several concentrations. The oxidative stability of the noodle was proportional to the green tea polyphenol concentration in lard.     

22种不同来源信阳毛尖茶的分类比较

为了探究采制时节、产地、等级等因素对信阳毛尖茶品质成分的影响,本文采用高效液相色谱等方法对22个不同来源的信阳毛尖茶中儿茶素、黄酮类、酚酸类、嘌呤碱等品质成分进行测定。主成分分析、聚类分析和偏最小乘法-判别分析显示采制时节是影响信阳毛尖品质成分的主要因素,不同来源信阳毛尖基本可按照采制时节分为明前、雨前和春尾。单因素方差分析显示不同采制时节信阳毛尖茶在8种儿茶素、5种黄酮类、2种嘌呤碱以及没食子酸、游离氨基酸等品质成分上存在极显著差异(P<0.01):明前茶中的游离氨基酸总量和(+)-儿茶素(C)含量最高、而(+)-没食子儿茶素(GC)、(-)-表没食子儿茶素(EGC)、(-)-表儿茶素没食子酸酯(ECG)、(-)-表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)、没食子酸、芦丁、杨梅素、槲皮素、可可碱含量最低,与雨前茶和春尾茶存在显著(P<0.05)或极显著差异(P<0.01)。不同产地和等级之间C、ECG、(-)-表没食子儿茶素(EGC)等儿茶素;芦丁、花旗松素、杨梅素等黄酮类;以及可可碱、茶碱等嘌呤碱含量存在显著(P<0.05)或极显著差异(P<0.01)。相对而言,四望山毛尖茶中非酯型儿茶素含量较高,而黄酮总量较低;芽头中游离氨基酸和C含量最高,而EGC和杨梅素含量最低,这对信阳毛尖采制时节的识别有一定影响。本文首次基于茶叶中品质成分对不同来源的信阳毛尖进行了分类比较,为明前茶的识别提供了科学依据。     

Major phenolic acids and total antioxidant activity in Mamaki leaves, Pipturus albidus

ABSTRACT:  Three phenolic acids, (+)catechins, chlorogenic acid, and rutin, were identified and quantified in Mamaki leaves using a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer technique. Concentrations of (+)catechins, chlorogenic acid, and rutin varied from 1.1 to 5.0 mg/g of Mamaki leaves as determined in the extract using 0.5% acetic acid in 90% aqueous methanol. This study also quantified total antioxidant capacity using the photochemiluminescence method, which was expressed in equivalents to ascorbic acid (AA). Mamaki teas brewed for 30 min contained total antioxidant activity (TAA) between 238 and 259 mg AA/g of tea. Mamaki teas brewed for 1 h and stored at 4 h, 1 d, and 3 d at 4 °C had available TAA 293, 271, 172, and 163 mg AA/g of tea leaves, respectively. The concentrations of (+)catechins and rutin in Mamaki leaves are compared to other types of popular teas. Mamaki teas contained relatively low amounts of TAA compared to green teas and Lipton teas.     

青砖茶加工过程品质成分变化研究

目的研究青砖茶加工过程中各化学品质成分含量的变化,为青砖茶风味品质形成提供理论依据。方法以青砖茶发酵前、发酵后及成品为材料,比较分析样品水分、水浸出物、游离氨基酸、咖啡碱、茶多酚、儿茶素组分、茶黄素组分、粗纤维、黄酮、可溶性糖、可溶性果胶等含量变化。结果青砖茶加工过程中,水分含量基本不变,控制在9%左右;纤维素含量呈现上升趋势,成品达到(21.29±0.78)%;水浸出物、可溶性总糖、儿茶素、茶黄素-3'-没食子酸酯、茶黄素总量呈现下降趋势;黄酮含量总体较为稳定,为1.40%~1.83%;茶黄素-3,3'-双没食子酸酯基本稳定在1 mg/g左右;咖啡碱含量发酵后显著低于发酵前;氨基酸、茶多酚、表儿茶素、表儿茶素没食子酸酯、表没食子儿茶素、表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯、儿茶素总量、茶黄素、茶黄素-3'-没食子酸酯、水溶性果胶均呈现下降后上升,但成品含量低于发酵前原料含量的趋势。结论青砖茶加工过程中不同生化成分变化趋势存在差异,成品与原料存在较大差异,具有粗涩味作用的成分含量降低,各成分间含量更加协调,为青砖茶醇和风味品质形成奠定基础。     

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 changes in black tea quality due to variations of plucking standard and fermentation time

Catechin levels in green leaf, total theaflavins, brightness, thearubigins, colour, flavour index and sensory evaluation decrease with coarse plucking standard in clone 6/8. The sum of Group I volatile flavour compounds and C₆ aldehydes and alcohols, in particular, increases with coarse plucking standard. The sum of Group II did not follow a particular pattern, but flavour index decreased with coarse plucking standards. The decrease in total theaflavin levels was due to the decrease in all the individual theaflavins. Although all the individual theaflavin levels decreased with coarse plucking standards, the decrease was greater in galloylated theaflavins, especially in theaflavin digallate, compared with simple theaflavin. Short fermentation times produced black teas with higher brightness and flavour index, but lower theaflavins, thearubigins and colour, irrespective of plucking standard. Total theaflavins reached a maximum after 90 min of fermentation, irrespective of the plucking standard, whereas ungalloylated theaflavin levels decreased with extended fermentation duration at all plucking standards, theaflavin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3, 3’-digallate levels increased, resulting in the increase in theaflavin digallate equivalent. Brightness and flavour index decreased while thearubigins, colour, and Groups I and II volatile flavour compound levels increased with long fermentation.     

绿茶酒发酵工艺优化及主要成分变化分析

目的：研究绿茶发酵酒工艺优化及发酵过程中茶多酚、儿茶素、香气成分含量的变化分析。方法：采用正交试验优化绿茶酒发酵工艺,利用高效液相色谱、气相色谱-质谱法测定儿茶素和香气成分变化。结果：绿茶酒发酵工艺参数为：绿茶用量4 g/L、蔗糖20%、蜂蜜50 g/L、葡萄酒酵母接种量5 g/L,发酵温度28 ℃,发酵10 d后过滤陈酿得绿茶酒;绿茶酒发酵过程中6 种儿茶素组分含量均有所增加,表没食子儿茶素、没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯、没食子酸、表儿茶素增加较为缓慢,儿茶素和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯增加迅速,分别增加了10.88 倍和17.33倍;发酵初始、发酵结束及陈酿的绿茶酒分别检测出香气成分87、88种和94种,各占检测出挥发性成分相对含量的92.93%、98.26%和91.87%;香气成分种类和相对含量在发酵过程中均变化明显,体现绿茶酒由茶香到酒香的变化。结论：绿茶可以发酵茶酒,发酵后绿茶酒的保健成分儿茶素含量增加,酒体醇香。     

The synergistic potential of various teas,herbs and therapeutic drugs in health improvement: a review

Tea is one of the most widely consumed non‐alcoholic beverages in the world next to water. It is classified as Camellia sinensis and non‐Camellia sinensis (herbal teas). The common bioactive compounds found mainly in green teas are flavan‐3‐ols (catechins) (also called flavanols), proanthocyanidins (tannins) and flavonols. Black tea contains theaflavins and thearubigins and white tea contains l ‐theanine and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), while herbal teas contain diverse polyphenols. Phytochemicals in tea exhibit antimicrobial, anti‐diabetic and anti‐cancer activities that are perceived to be helpful in managing chronic diseases linked to lifestyle. Many of these phytochemicals are reported to be biologically active when combined. Knowledge of the synergistic interactions of tea with other teas or herbs in terms of biological activities will be of benefit for therapeutic enhancement. There is evidence that various types of teas act synergistically in exhibiting health benefits to humans, improving consumer acceptance and economic value. Similar observations have been made when teas and herbs or medicinal drugs were combined. The aim of this review is to highlight potential beneficial synergies between combinations of different types of teas, tea and herbs, and tea and medicinal drugs. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibitory effects of black tea theaflavin derivatives on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammation and arachidonic acid metabolism in mouse ears

Tea has been shown to possess several health beneficial properties primarily due to its polyphenolic content. The major polyphenolic compounds in black tea leaves are theaflavins (TFs) formed by oxidative coupling of catechins in tea leaves during its processing. In this paper, we report the characterization of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear inflammatory model and the inhibitory effects of major black tea TFs derivatives on this inflammation. In addition, the effect on inflammatory biomarkers, such as proinflammatory cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites, are reported as well. A single topical application of TPA to ears of CD-1 mice induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in edema as well as formation of proinflammatory cytokine proteins interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mouse ears. A single topical application of equimolar of black tea constituents (TF, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3'-gallate, and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate) strongly inhibited TPA-induced edema of mouse ears. Application of TFs mixture to mouse ears 20 min prior to each TPA application once a day for 4 days inhibited TPA-induced persistent inflammation, as well as TPA-induced increase in IL-1beta and IL-6 protein levels. TFs also inhibited arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism via both cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase pathways. This observation was substantiated by decreased amounts of AA metabolites prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) levels. Combined application of TF and sulindac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug resulted a significant synergetic anti-inflammatory effect. Oral administration of TFs or the hot water extract of black tea leaves also significantly inhibited TPA-induced edema in mouse ears. In conclusion, proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and IL-6, as well as the intermediated metabolites of AA, PGE2, and LTB4 are good biomarkers for inflammation. Black tea constituents, TF and its derivatives, had strongly anti-inflammatory activity in vivo which may be due to their ability to inhibit AA metabolism via lipoxygenase and COX pathways.     

Changes in antioxidant phytochemicals and volatile composition of Camellia sinensis by oxidation during tea fermentation

Monomeric flavonoids (flavan 3-ols or tea catechins) present in Camellia sinensis leaf are transformed to polymeric theaflavin and thearubigin by oxidation occurring during tea fermentation. The distinctive colour, decreased bitterness and astringency, and characteristic flavour are derived from the fermentation process giving fermented teas a marked distinction from non-fermented green tea. Even though teas are available in many different fermentation levels from green to black, the difference in phytochemicals and volatile compounds in teas with different degrees of fermentation has not been fully investigated yet within the same tea leaf. The objective of this study was to observe non-volatile phytochemicals including polyphenolic and volatile compounds changes by oxidation under strict processing control and to evaluate the degree of fermentation for the maximum antioxidant capacity with the same tea material. Harvested tea leaf was immediately processed to different degrees of oxidative fermentation (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%). Tea infusions brewed with each processed tea leaf were analysed for polyphenolic profile, total soluble phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and volatile profile using LC–MS, HPLC, Folin–Ciocalteu assay, Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), and GC–MS analyses. The flavonoids in non-fermented green tea were significantly lessened during the oxidative fermentation process and the decreased monomeric flavonoids were transformed to polymeric theaflavin and thearubigin as the leaves were more processed. Total soluble phenolics and antioxidant capacity were significantly higher as tea leaves were less processed with a high correlation with individual polyphenolic changes. Volatile compounds present in tea leaf were analysed by GC–MS to observe changes due to processing and were utilised to create a model to differentiate fermentation based on volatile composition. Twenty-four compounds were used to build an initial model which was optimised to 16 compounds with complete separation of the groups using discriminant function analysis. The data suggested that fermentation diminished antioxidant capacity of tea and could result in lowering potential health benefits from flavonoids. This result should be considered for tea manufacturing and the development of functional foods desiring maximum potential health benefits from antioxidant flavonoids in tea.     

尤溪苦茶资源苦涩味物质测定与分析

采用分光光度法和高效液相色谱法,对33?份尤溪苦茶资源的花青素、总黄酮、生物碱组分、儿茶素组分等显苦涩味物质的生化成分进行测定。结果表明,其物质成分特征指标均具有一定差异,20?个指标变异系数在9.74%～73.08%之间,说明尤溪苦茶苦涩味生化成分存在丰富的多样性和变异性。与4?份对照茶树相比,发现尤溪苦茶在花青素、咖啡碱、可可碱、茶碱、表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯、儿茶素总量和酯型儿茶素的均值均高于对照,表明尤溪苦茶苦涩味突出的原因为高含量的花青素、咖啡碱和儿茶素及其相互协同作用。据此筛选出花青素含量特异资源8?份、高咖啡碱资源1?份、可可碱特异资源1?份以及高表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯资源21?份,为苦茶的杂交育种、创新加工、功能性成分开发与次生代谢机理的相关研究提供良好的材料基础。     

Cocoa tea (Camellia ptilophylla Chang), a natural decaffeinated species of tea – Recommendations on the proper way of preparation for consumption

Cocoa tea is a new natural decaffeinated tea. Three types of cocoa tea (green, oolong and black) were produced and their sensory evaluation scores accessed. Main components and their dissolution rates in ten infusions of the three teas were analyzed by HPLC and spectrophotometry. The comprehensive score of sensory evaluations was 85.1, 86.8 and 94.4, respectively. Upon fermentation the contents of water extract (46.67%, 41.8% and 40%), tea polyphenols (38.58%, 30.41% and 23.6%) and total catechins (23.51%, 17.68% and 4.02%) in green, oolong and black teas decreased gradually, and theaflavins (0.11%, 0.11% and 0.17%), thearubigins (4.29%, 5.00% and 9.71%), theabrownins (2.75%, 4.90% and 13.52%), water-soluble carbohydrates, flavonoid glycoside and gallic acid in the three teas increased gradually. Theobromine (3.52%, 3.43% and 3.71%) was the alkaloid present in cocoa tea and its content did not change upon fermentation. In the three teas, 9–25% of the main components dissolved in the first 10 s-infusion, more than 80% of most components dissolved in five infusions. A recommendation for consuming cocoa tea is to infuse tea leaves (g) with 50 times boiling water (ml) for 3 min, the first infusion should not be discarded and five infusions were sufficient.