Cream formation and main chemical components of green tea infusions processed from different parts of new shoots

The formation of green tea cream and its chemical components were investigated. The green tea infusions were processed from different parts of new shoots: the bud and the first leaf, the second leaf and its implicative stem, the third leaf and its implicative stem, and the fourth leaf and its implicative stem, which were named as first part, second part, third part and fourth part, respectively. The results showed that the formation of tea cream and its settlement slowed down gradually from the first part to the fourth part, and that the amount of tea cream also decreased accordingly. The amount of tea cream was influenced remarkably by the chemical components in the green tea infusion. The main components of green tea cream were polyphenols (29.86 –78.66%), total sugar (14.47–27.62%) and caffeine (2.35–10.43%). Catechins (12.8–42.5%) were the main components of polyphenols which participated in tea cream formation. The main components in the catechins were found to be (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)-epicatechin (EC) and (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG). Seven minerals were found in the tea cream, including Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺.     

茶多酚和咖啡碱对茶乳酪形成的影响

采用茶多酚和咖啡碱模拟构建茶乳酪成因体系,通过分析溶液的透光率、粒径、沉淀量、咖啡碱和儿茶素含量的变化,综合评价茶多酚和咖啡碱对茶乳酪形成的影响。结果表明：随茶多酚和咖啡碱质量浓度的增加,其聚合后溶液的透光率从95.5%降为24.7%;粒径从198 nm增加到475 nm;沉淀量由8 mg/L增加到244 mg/L;当固定咖啡碱或茶多酚中任一物质的质量浓度,随另一物质质量浓度的增加,上述变化趋势增强。通过分析检测咖啡碱和儿茶素各单体在模拟反应体系中的变化,表明咖啡碱和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（epigallocatechin-3-gallate,EGCG）是模拟体系中茶乳酪形成的关键组分。因此,尽量选用咖啡碱含量低于200 mg/L、茶多酚含量低于1 200 mg/L的绿茶原料,可避免茶乳酪的大量生成,增强绿茶饮料透亮的感官效果。     

Irreversible sediment formation in green tea infusions

The formation of irreversible tea sediment (IRS) and its chemical components in green tea infusions were investigated. The results showed that the amounts of IRS in the green tea infusions from various tea cultivars ranged from 0.10 to 1.47 mg/mL. The amount of IRS was influenced remarkably by the chemical components in the green tea infusion. Principal component analysis and regression analysis indicated that gallated catechins, Mn, Ca, caffeine, Na, and (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG) were the principal components. IRS (mg/mL) = -4.226 + 0.275 gallated catechins + 79.551 Na + 7.321 Mn + 21.055 Ca + 0.513 caffeine - 0.129 GCG (R2 = 0.697). The contents of the main chemical components in the reversible tea sediment (RTS) and IRS were markedly different, especially the minerals. Large amount of minerals participated in the formation of irreversible green tea sediment. The amount of IRS increased with the extraction temperature.     

Tea extraction methods in relation to control of epimerization of tea catechins

Effect of water temperature and ethanol concentration on epimerization and extractability of tea catechins was investigated. The results showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) were partially epimerized into gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and catechin gallate (CG), respectively, when tea catechins extract was heated in water solution at 100 °C for 2 h or dry tea was extracted in water at 100 °C. The epimerization of the catechins was inhibited if the tea catechins extract was heated as solid powder and the dry tea was extracted in 50% (v/v) ethanol or in water at 80 °C or below. When the dry tea was extracted in water, the extractability of catechins increased with the increase of extraction temperature up to 100 °C, but there was no statistically significant difference in total catechins between 80 °C and 100 °C. When teas were extracted using ethanol solutions, the highest extractability of total catechins was obtained in 50% (v/v) ethanol for dry tea and in 75% (v/v) ethanol for fresh tea leaf. In order to reveal the real profiles of tea catechins in teas to be tested, dry tea should be extracted in 50% (v/v) ethanol for 10 min, while fresh tea leaf should be extracted in 75% (v/v) ethanol for 10 min. For commercial extraction, temperature should be controlled at 80 °C if water is used as the solvent. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Decaffeination of fresh green tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) by hot water treatment

Hot water treatment was used to decaffeinate fresh tea leaf in the present study. Water temperature, extraction time and ratio of leaf to water had a statistically significant effect on the decaffeination. When fresh tea leaf was decaffeinated with a ratio of tea leaf to water of 1:20 (w/v) at 100 °C for 3 min, caffeine concentration was decreased from 23.7 to 4.0 mg g⁻¹, while total tea catechins decreased from 134.5 to 127.6 mg g⁻¹; 83% of caffeine was removed and 95% of total catechins was retained in the decaffeinated leaf. It is considered that the hot water treatment is a safe and inexpensive method for decaffeinating green tea. However, a large percentage of tea catechins was lost if rolled leaf and dry tea were decaffeinated by the hot water treatment and so the process is not suitable for processing black tea.     

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。     

普洱茶生茶茶膏与市售生茶茶膏的主要成分分析

通过两种不同的浸提方法与两种不同的干燥方法制备茶膏,对其进行成分和活性物质的分析,并与市售茶膏进行比较。结果表明:经过沸水浸提、真空减压浓缩的茶膏样品,其氨基酸、茶多酚、总儿茶素、表没食子儿茶素(Epigallocatechin,EGC)、表儿茶素没食子酸酯(Epicatechin gallate,ECG)、表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(Epigallocatechin gallate,EGCG)及其他活性成分(没食子酸、咖啡碱、茶氨酸)的含量较其他处理的平均值分别高16.95%、21.96%、24.93%、48.80%、45.31%、63.42%、0.48%、13.52%、38.85%。市售生茶茶膏的营养素、酚类物质及活性成分的含量普遍差异较大。因此,规范茶膏生产工艺,保证产品质量非常重要。     

Effects of cosolvents on the decaffeination of green tea by supercritical carbon dioxide

Due to the adverse effects of the caffeine in a variety of plant products, many methods have been explored for decaffeination, in efforts to remove or reduce the caffeine contained in plant materials. In this study, in order to remove caffeine from green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, we have employed supercritical carbon dioxide (SC–CO₂), which is known to be an ideal solvent, coupled with a cosolvent, such as ethanol or water. By varying the extraction conditions, changes not only in the amount of caffeine, but also in the quantities of the principal bioactive components of green tea, including catechins, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epicatechin (EC), were determined. The extraction conditions, including temperature, pressure and the cosolvent used, were determined to affect the efficacy of caffeine and catechin extraction. In particular, the type and concentration of a cosolvent used constituted critical factors for the caffeine removal, combined with minimal loss of catechins, especially EGCG. When the dry green tea leaves were extracted with SC–CO₂ modified with 95% (v/v) ethanol at 7.0 g per 100 g of CO₂ at 300 bar and 70 °C for 120 min, the caffeine content in the decaffeinated green tea leaves was reduced to 2.6% of the initial content. However, after the SC–CO₂ extraction, a substantial loss of EGCG, as much as 37.8% of original content, proved unavoidable.     

The roles of catechins and caffeine in cream formation in a semi-fermented tea

The mechanism of cream formation in a semi-fermented tea was investigated by adding caffeine or catechins to the de-creamed tea infusions. The addition of catechins to the clarified infusion could not re-induce cream formation. However, creaming occurred again after replenishing the de-creamed tea infusion with caffeine. It was thought that the ester-form catechins which possessed a galloyl group and a hydroxylphenyl B ring acted like a claw. They could thus entrap and interact with caffeine more effectively through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction to form a large complex, resulting in creaming. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of extraction conditions on polyphenols content and cream constituents in black tea extracts

Increase in water‐to‐tea ratio and extraction time increased polyphenols recovery as well as extractable‐solids‐yield (ESY) in black tea extracts. Polyphenols content‐in‐extracted solids (PES) used as a tea quality parameter, was significantly higher at 50:1 water‐to‐tea ratio and favourably improved only up to 60 min. Extending the extraction period beyond 40 min degraded theaflavins (TF) and also affected the recovery of major catechins. Although tea cream content showed a decrease with increase in water‐to‐tea ratio, the content was nearly the same (1.80–1.89%) in all these extracts when measured at a uniform 0.5% solids concentration. The extraction conditions displayed a similar influence on the other tea cream components, namely, caffeine, calcium, pectin and protein. The conditions optimised (50:1 water‐to‐tea ratio and 40 min) based on higher PES and TF/TR ratio gave a maximum PES of 0.566 g g^?1 and TF of 0.46% (black tea) in the extract.     

Optimal extraction conditions for simultaneous determination of catechins and caffeine in green tea leaves

The amount of catechins and caffeine in green tea are considered a standard of quality evaluation for green tea. The objectives of this study were to investigate the optimal conditions for simultaneous extraction of catechins and caffeine and to compare their quantity and composition within the exotic tea varieties. Moreover, 8 tea varieties of exotic origin were tested with the optimal extraction conditions found in this study. Regarding the caffeine and catechins contents, a 2 h room temperature extraction using a 2% phosphoric acid-40% EtOH solution was the most suitable simultaneous extraction method. The total catechins and caffeine contents of the tea leaves ranged 44.25–64.80 and 9.26–13.11 mg/g, respectively. The optimal extraction method of catechins and caffeine in tea leaves may be used for further studies and breeding of high quality tea plants.     

普洱熟茶不同溶剂萃取层中儿茶素及黄酮醇类化合物差异的研究

目的 探索普洱熟茶在不同溶剂(乙酸乙酯和正丁醇)萃取中儿茶素和黄酮醇类化合物的组成及含量的差异,构建一种有效提取普洱熟茶中儿茶素及黄酮醇类物质的方法。方法 以普洱熟茶(2008年生产)的水提物为研究对象,分别用乙酸乙酯和正丁醇溶剂萃取的萃取层为分析供试样,采用高效液相色谱法(high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC)对供试茶样中5种主要儿茶素和4种黄酮醇类化合物的含量进行了测定。结果 儿茶素、表儿茶素、表儿茶素没食子酸酯、表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯、杨梅素、槲皮素和山奈酚主要富集于乙酸乙酯萃取层中;而芦丁与表没食子儿茶素分别富集于正丁醇层与萃取剩余层。结论 建立了一种简易、有效地分析检测普洱熟茶中儿茶素及黄酮醇类物质的提取方法,为进一步解析普洱熟茶的化学成分提供一定的方法借鉴。     

珠形茶摊青过程中主要化学成分的变化

以珠形茶茶青为材料,采用感官判断法和亨特-Lab表色法,并结合高效液相色谱法和化学分析法,对不同摊青处理茶样分别进行了叶相观察、色泽测定和主要化学成分分析,并利用SPSS统计软件进行差异显著性和相关性分析。结果表明：摊青过程中茶青含水率呈显著减少,色泽逐渐加深,叶质逐渐变软,清香逐渐显露,最适宜珠形茶加工的含水率和-b/a值分别为74%和3.66;含水率、ECG、EGCG、GCG、酯型儿茶素总量、儿茶素总量呈减少趋势;氨基酸总量和可溶性糖呈增加趋势;茶多酚、酚氨比、EC、儿茶素总量呈先减少后增加的趋势;EGC呈先减少再增加后减少的趋势;C呈先增加再减少后增加的趋势。含水率变化与EC呈正相关,与可溶性糖呈负相关,但均未达到显著水平;而与茶多酚、酚氨比、EGC、EGCG、GCG、ECG、酯型儿茶素总量和儿茶素总量呈极显著正相关,如与EGCG的相关系数r0.01=0.99＊＊;与氨基酸和C呈极显著负相关。     

渥堆发酵过程中藏茶化学成分的变化

目的：阐明藏茶渥堆过程主要化学成分的变化规律。方法：以不同发酵阶段藏茶样为原料,研究发酵过程中藏茶水提物中可溶性固形物、可溶性糖、总多酚、总黄酮含量及水提物体外抗氧化活性的变化,并应用超高效液相色谱仪检测水提物中茶碱、咖啡碱、没食子酸和8种儿茶素类单体的含量,应用酶联免疫法测定水提物中茶黄素、茶红素和茶褐素的含量。结果：藏茶发酵过程中可溶性固形物含量先降低后略有回升,可溶性糖、总多酚、总黄酮含量逐渐降低,抗氧化活性逐渐减弱,咖啡碱呈波动状态且变化较小,没食子酸与儿茶素含量先上升再略有下降,没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯与表儿茶素含量先升高后降低,没食子儿茶素、表没食子儿茶素、表儿茶素没食子酸酯和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯含量均呈持续下降的状态,其中表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯在黑毛茶中含量为39.69 mg/g,在成品茶中降至1.36 mg/g;茶红素含量先增加后降低,茶黄素含量变化很小,茶褐素含量逐渐升高（黑毛茶中3.12 g/100 g,成品茶中7.46 g/100 g）。结论：藏茶渥堆发酵过程中,可溶性糖、总多酚、总黄酮等含量降低,抗氧化活性减弱,茶碱、咖啡碱、儿茶素类单体等活性成分含量的变化趋势不一致,茶褐色含量逐渐升高。     

Extraction of active ingredients from green tea (Camellia sinensis): Extraction efficiency of major catechins and caffeine

The effect of different extraction set-ups that influence the extraction efficiency of catechins and caffeine from green tea leaves (variety Fanning Belas, China) were studied using different aqueous and pure solvents (acetone, ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile, water), different temperatures (60, 80, 95 and 100 °C) and times (5–240 min). Raw extracts were analysed for contents of major catechins (EC, EGC, ECG, EGCG), caffeine, proanthocyanidins and flavonols (myricetin, caempherol, quercetin). Starting material was found to contain 191 g major catechins/kg material, 36 g caffeine/kg material and 5.2 g flavonols/kg material on a dry mass basis. The content of major catechins in green tea extracts varied from approximately 280–580 g/kg dry extract, with extraction efficiencies of major catechins varying from 61% to almost 100%. Content of caffeine in extract was in the range of 75 g/kg, where its extraction efficiency varied from 62% to 76%. Average extraction yield was 30% with exceptions when using pure acetone and acetonitrile, where extraction yield was about 3%. Contents of flavonols and proanthocyanidins were in the ranges 6–20 and 12–19 g/kg, respectively. Different extraction procedures with water were also investigated and optimal conditions determined: maximum achieved extraction efficiency of catechins with water was obtained at 80 °C after 20 min (97%) and at 95 °C after 10 min of extraction (90%). Degradation of catechins was observed at higher extraction temperatures and with prolonged extraction times. Using a lower ratio of solvent to material, extraction efficiencies were increased by applying a multi-step extraction procedure. Optimal extraction procedure was then performed using decaffeinated green tea leaves, which were obtained by high-pressure extraction with CO₂, when 98% of caffeine was selectively isolated without significant impact on valuable catechins.     

黄茶加工中主要品质成分的动态变化

以茶树品种碧香早夏季一芽一叶鲜叶为原料,按照摊放、杀青、揉捻、闷黄、干燥的传统黄茶加工工艺,将其加工成黄茶,通过对其中11 个有代表性的工艺点取样,并进行茶多酚、儿茶素、氨基酸、水浸出物、可溶性糖、咖啡碱、黄酮含量检测,以及感官审评和香气品质成分分析,探讨黄茶加工过程中主要品质成分的动态变化。结果表明,在黄茶加工过程中,滋味物质茶多酚、儿茶素总量、水浸出物、可溶性糖、咖啡碱以及黄酮含量均在整体上逐渐降低,其足干茶样含量相对茶鲜叶的降幅分别为30.12%、24.08%、10.97%、61.34%、33.20%、25.55%,而游离氨基酸含量则有所增加,其足干茶样含量相对茶鲜叶的增幅为19.46%,其中茶多酚、咖啡碱、黄酮以及氨基酸含量在摊放过程中有所上升;香气物质中,足干茶样的醇类、酮类、烯烃类、酯类化合物的相对含量相较于茶鲜叶分别减少了17.18%、5.51%、5.77%、2.10%,而醛类、酚类化合物的相对含量则分别增加了35.35%、4.06%;从加工工艺看,黄茶滋味品质主要受摊放与闷黄工序的影响,摊放过程中氨基酸含量随着摊放时间的延长而增加,而闷黄过程可使酯型儿茶素转化为简单儿茶素,并在此工艺中产生茶黄素,是黄茶醇鲜爽滋味及“黄汤黄叶”品质形成的主要因素,同时闷黄时间为8 h时,滋味品质较好;香气品质则主要受摊放、闷黄和干燥工序影响。     

Quantitative and Qualitative Portrait of Green Tea Catechins (Gtc) Through Hplc

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a prosperous source of polyphenols, especially catechins. In the current research, an effort was made to optimize the extraction conditions for maximum yield of catechins from the local green tea Qi-Men. For the purpose, three different solvents were used, i.e., aqueous ethanol (50%), aqueous methanol (50%), and water at different time intervals (20, 40, and 60 min). Green tea catechins were quantified through HPLC using a C18 column and UV detector. The antioxidant activity of green tea catechins was measured through in vitro tests including DPPH radical scavenging ability and antioxidant activity. Results showed that extraction through aqueous ethanol resulted in maximum yield of green tea catechins (17400 ± 0.19 mg/100 g green tea leaves. Moreover, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin ranged from 4.26 ± 0.09 to 6.4 ± 0.2, 12.1 ± 0.123 to 17.7 ± 0.3, 1.32 ± 0.03 to 1.81 ± 0.02, 5.48 ± 0.099 to 8.6 ± 0.2 g/100 g of dry-extract, respectively. Furthermore, highest antiradical (80.65 ± 3.69%) and antioxidant activity (67.12 ± 3.08%) were observed in catechins extracted through aqueous ethanol.     

LP-8大孔树脂制备高含量酯型儿茶素茶多酚

结合当前茶学中酯型儿茶素研究热点和工业生产中差异化茶多酚产品需求,对LP-8大孔树脂分离制备高含量酯型儿茶素茶多酚开展研究。先经静态吸附和洗脱实验表明LP-8大孔树脂对茶多酚（含酯型儿茶素）和咖啡碱具有较大的吸附选择性差异,用体积分数70%乙醇溶液洗脱即可获较理想的茶多酚回收率,因此确定LP-8树脂具有分离制备高含量酯型儿茶素茶多酚的可行性。再经静态吸附动力学和等温吸附实验,结合Langmuir拟合方程推算,25 ℃下LP-8大孔树脂的饱和吸附量为70.9 mg/g。经动态吸附实验,确定了最佳吸附条件为上样流速1 BV/h、上样质量浓度30 mg/mL,利用不同体积分数的乙醇溶液对饱和吸附样进行梯度洗脱,40%～60%洗脱合并液中酯型儿茶素占茶多酚比例达78.0%（表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯占茶多酚总量的61.0%）,即利用LP-8大孔树脂获得了高含量酯型儿茶素茶多酚。     

Comparison of extraction and isolation efficiency of catechins and caffeine from green tea leaves using different solvent systems

Catechins from green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) have received considerable attention due to their beneficial effects on human health, such as antioxidant and anticancer activities. Optimisation of extraction conditions of the catechins from green tea leaves was performed using different solvents (ethanol or distilled water), different extraction methods (ultrasound‐assisted, room temperature or reflux extractions) and various extraction times (0.5–24 h). The optimal extraction conditions were determined using 40% ethanol with ultrasound‐assisted extraction method for 2 h at 40 °C. In addition, two isolation methods for the recovery of catechins from green tea extracts were compared using different solvent combinations (chloroform/ethyl acetate versus ethyl acetate/dichloromethane). The results showed that the ethyl acetate/dichloromethane system could achieve much higher content of catechins than the other isolation approaches, indicating the method that extract catechins first with organic solvent such as ethyl acetate before removing caffeine is much effective than removing caffeine first when organic solvents are used for the recovery of catechins without caffeine from green tea extracts.     

Some molecular and colloidal aspects of tea cream formation

The formation of tea cream for a range of black tea materials was studied by turbidity measurements, time-resolved light scattering, gravimetric measurements and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). These techniques demonstrate that, in the absence of caffeine and/or gallate esters the solubility of tea solids in black tea infusions is enhanced compared with the ‘standard’ black tea material. All the tea system show an increase in cream-point, amount of tea cream and particle size with increasing tea solids concentration. Decaffeination has a larger impact on enhancing the solubility of tea colloids than degallation. HPLC studies indicate that theaflavins have a preference for the cream phase, whereas ie. catechin C is preferentially partitioned into the aqueous supernatant phase. Caffeine is preferentially partitioned into the cream phase, albeit less favourably than theaflavins and other relatively high-molecular mass polyphenols. Comparison between ‘standard’ and decaffeinated black tea shows that in the absence of caffeine, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is preferentially partitioned into the cream phase.