How manufacturing processes affect the level of pesticide residues in tea

Tea (both green and black) is consumed throughout the world, both for pleasure and therapeutic purposes. Most people will be unaware of their involuntary exposure to residues of pesticides lingering in processed tea and so possibly transferring into infusions of tea. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of green tea and orthodox black tea manufacturing processes on the fate of pesticides sprayed onto tea bushes (Camellia sinensis). The fates of residues of dimethoate, quinalphos, dicofol and deltamethrin in these two different types of tea manufacturing processes were compared. For black tea, the manufacturing process involves leaf harvesting, withering, rolling, fermentation and drying; and for green tea, leaf harvesting, microwave heating, rolling and drying. The two processes resulted in the same concentration factor of plant material into the dried commodity, while the decreases in residue levels were different for different pesticides. Initial microwave heating and dehydration in the green tea manufacturing process resulted in greater loss of pesticide residues than did withering and dehydration in black tea; no significant reduction in residue level resulted from the rolling and fermentation steps in black tea. Residue levels in both green and black teas were reduced during final drying. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison of the dissipation behaviour of three neonicotinoid insecticides in tea

The dissipation behaviour of three neonicotinoids – thiamethoxam, imidacloprid and acetamiprid – was compared in tea shoots, in Chinese green and black tea, and after tea infusion in hot water. The simple and rapid analytical procedures for the quantification of these three residues in these matrices were developed using HPLC with ultraviolet (UV) detection. Degradation rates in tea shoots of neonicotinoids applied in either recommended or double dosages followed first-order kinetics, with half-lives of 1.62 or 1.58 days for thiamethoxam, of 2.45 or 2.67 days for imidacloprid, and of 3.24 or 3.85 days for acetamiprid, respectively. Through harvest and processing the residue retentions for thiamethoxam, imidacloprid and acetamiprid were 85.0%, 84.1% and 70.6% of the initial dosages in green tea, and 77.1%, 52.4% and 57.4% in black tea. These three residues all showed high transfer rates through green or black tea brewing of 80.5% or 81.6% for thiamethoxam, of 63.1% or 62.2% for imidacloprid, and of 78.3% or 80.6% for acetamiprid. Waiting periods between the last application and harvest of at least 12, 17 and 20 days were suggested for thiamethoxam, imidacloprid and acetamiprid, respectively, after application at their recommend dosages to ensure levels below a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.05 mg kg^?1.     

Leaching of residues of certain pesticides from black tea to brew

Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world. It is prepared after infusing processed black tea in hot water. During the process of brewing, along with flavour and aroma, the residues of plant protection chemicals may also be transferred into the tea brew or infusion. The leaching of certain pesticides, such as ethion, endosulfan, dicofol, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, hexaconazole, fenpropathrin, propargite, quinalphos and lambdacyhalothrin from powdered black tea into the brew was studied. The rate of transfer of the pesticide residue from black tea to the hot brew was largely influenced by physicochemical parameters, such as water solubility and octanol-water partition coefficient. Tea brews prepared from untreated black tea samples were fortified with standard solutions of the respective pesticides, extracted and analysed using GC and HPLC by following standardised methods. Results revealed that the rate of leaching of residues of these pesticides into the tea brew was low due to their low solubilities in aqueous medium and high octanol-water partitioning coefficients.     

Persistence of acetamiprid in tea and its transfer from made tea to infusion

Acetamiprid, a new-generation, highly active neonicotinoid insecticide has been used to control mites and insect pests. In the present study, the disappearance trend of acetamiprid residue in tea under field conditions was studied at two dosages for two seasons (dry and wet), and transfer of residues from made tea to infusion was also determined. Acetamiprid dissipation rate was found to be faster in the wet season. Half-life of acetamprid was found to be 1.82–2.33 days in green tea shoots and 1.84–2.25 days in made tea for both dry and wet seasons. The percent transfer of acetamiprid residues from made tea to infusion was 36.84–50.00%; however, 31.11–44.40% of the residues remained stuck to the spent leaves during both the dry and wet seasons. On the basis of transfer of residues from made tea to infusion, a waiting period of 15 days for tea plucking after pesticide application at recommended dose may be suggested.     

Dissipation of imidacloprid in Orthodox tea and its transfer from made tea to infusion

Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide used widely in controlling mites, mealy bugs and other related pests in fruits, vegetables and tea. The dissipation behaviour of imidacloprid residues in green tea shoots, made tea and its transfer potential from made tea to infusion in hot water was studied. Analysis in tea matrices of imidacloprid was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Under field conditions, imidacloprid dissipation rate was found to be faster in the wet season than the dry season. Half lives in green shoots were in the range 1.14–1.23 and 1.03–1.09 days, and 1.14–1.25, 1.04–1.07 days in made tea, for the dry and wet season, respectively. The percent transfer of imidacloprid residue from made tea to infusion was in the range of 29.2–42.0% during the dry and wet season; however, 38.2% and 57.9% of the residues remained stuck to the spent leaves during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. On the basis of transfer of residues from made tea to hot water infusion, a waiting period of 7 days after pesticide application at a recommended dose for tea plucking is suggested.     

Removal of imidacloprid and acetamiprid from tea infusions by microfiltration membrane

Removal of imidacloprid and acetamiprid in tea infusions by microfiltration membrane using dead‐end model was investigated in the present study. The results showed that microfiltration significantly promoted the removal of both pesticides (P < 0.05) in tea infusions. Furthermore, the extent of removal was strongly influenced by the pore size of membrane, operational pressure and the concentrations of tea infusions. The initial concentration of imidacloprid and acetamiprid showed no significant effect on their removal rates. The maximum removal rates were 79.7% for imidacloprid and 81.9% acetamiprid. The changes in major chemical components of tea infusions after microfiltration were evaluated. The results indicated that microfiltration caused no considerable changes in total polyphenols and total free amino acids, and small but statistically significant losses (6.3–18.0%) of eight catechins and three methylxanthines when filtration volume reached to 200 mL. The present study validated the application of microfiltration as a potentially feasible and promising method for the removal of imidacloprid and acetamiprid residues from tea infusions.     

Residues and contaminants in tea and tea infusions: a review

Consumers are very aware of contaminants that could pose potential health hazards. Most people drink tea as an infusion (adding hot water); however, in some countries, including India, China and Egypt, tea is drunk as a decoction (tea and water are boiled together). An infusion usually brings the soluble ingredients into solution, whereas a decoction brings all soluble and non-soluble constituents together. Therefore, a cup of tea may contain various kinds of contaminants. This review focuses on green and black tea because they are most commonly consumed. The target was to examine the transfer rate of contaminants – pesticides, environmental pollutants, mycotoxins, microorganisms, toxic heavy metals, radioactive isotopes (radionuclides) and plant growth regulators – from tea to infusion/brewing, factors contributing to the transfer potential and contaminants degradation, and residues in or on the spent leaves. It is concluded that most contaminants leaching into tea infusion are not detected or are detected at a level lower than the regulatory limits. However, the traditional practice of over-boiling tea leaves should be discouraged as there may be a chance for more transfer of contaminants from the tea to the brew.     

Residue pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during green tea manufacturing and their transfer rates during tea brewing

ABSTRACT

Residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in green tea and tea infusion were determined using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to study their dissipation pattern during green tea processing and infusion. Concentration and evaporation of PAHs during tea processing were the key factors affecting PAH residue content in product intermediates and in green tea. PAH residues in tea leaves increased by 2.4–3.1 times during the manufacture of green tea using the electric heating model. After correction to dry weight, PAH residue concentrations decreased by 33.5–48.4% during green tea processing because of PAH evaporation. Moreover, spreading and drying reduced PAH concentrations. The transfer rates of PAH residues from green tea to infusion varied from 4.6% to 7.2%, and PAH leaching was higher in the first infusion than in the second infusion. These results are useful for assessing exposure to PAHs from green tea and in formulating controls for the maximum residue level of PAHs in green tea.     

不同干燥成形方式的白叶红茶品质分析

目的 研究不同干燥成形方式对白叶红茶品质的影响。方法 以白叶1号鲜叶为原料, 采用相同的萎凋、揉捻、初烘程序, 用不同的干燥做形方式制成不同形态的红茶,以感官审评结合理化分析的方法对不同形态的红茶进行了品质分析。结果 通过不同干燥成形方式获得了卷曲形、毛峰型、针形、扁形4种形态的红茶。4种红茶茶黄素、茶红素及氨基酸含量稍有差别,针形红茶茶黄素、类黄酮与氨基酸总量略高, 有利于提高其饮用价值,但4种红茶色、香、味感官品质总体接近。二次干燥(足火)-成形过程促使不同形态白叶红茶香气组成发生一定变化, 进而对红茶香型产生了细微影响,4种红茶以甜香为基本香型,卷曲型红茶香气特征偏于花香,扁形红茶略带果香。结论 毛火过程对白叶红茶品质的形成和固定具有关键意义, 干燥成形方式不改变总的香气特征, 但可使白叶红茶的具体香型发生细微分化。     

Effects of withering on the main physical properties of withered tea leaves and the sensory quality of congou black tea

To explore the relationship between the moisture content of withered tea leaves and their physical properties (i.e., elasticity, plasticity, flexibility, and texture) during withering, texture analyzer was employed to test the elasticity and flexibility of withered tea leaves with different moisture contents. The texture was evaluated by computer vision technology. The withered tea leaves with different moisture contents were used to process congou black tea, which was then subjected to sensory evaluation. Results showed that good elasticity, optimal flexibility, and plasticity were achieved when the moisture content of the withered tea leaves of Fudingdabai comprising two leaves and one bud varied arranging from 65.51 to 61.48%. The sensory evaluation of congou black tea revealed that moderate withering was better than long-term withering and that both moderate and long-term withering were better than no withering during processing. The moisture content was significantly correlated with the flexibility and plasticity of the withered tea leaves. Fresh tea leaves undergoing moderate withering with moisture content of 65.51–61.48% to process congou black tea, good tea shape and liquor color were achieved. This study provided new evidence that the moisture content of withered tea leaves significantly affected the quality of black tea.     

烟台市售茶叶中12种农药残留的监测及其健康风险评价

目的了解烟台市售茶叶农药残留污染水平,评价其膳食暴露健康风险,以期为生产监管和消费提供依据。方法采用简单随机抽样的方法,采集在售茶叶样本176份,按照《2016年国家食品污染和有害因素风险监测工作手册》规定的标准操作程序进行12种农药检测,运用危害指数(hazard index,HI)法评价其膳食暴露风险。结果 176件样品中,97件检出农药残留,烟台市售茶叶中农药残留检出率为59.09%,红茶、绿茶、袋泡茶的检出率分别为54.72%、58.90%、73.33%。检出的11种农药中,联苯菊酯检出频次最多,数值范围0.01~2.25 mg/kg,均值为0.133 mg/kg,乌龙茶中残留均值最大,为0.27 mg/kg;其次为绿茶、红茶、袋泡茶和桑叶茶。红茶、绿茶、袋泡茶、乌龙茶、桑叶茶的HI分别为0.0051、0.0066、0.0025、0.0020、0.0019、0.0036,均远小于1,其危害指数处在可接受的安全水平。结论烟台市售茶叶中农药残留检出率较高,但农药残留值低于GB 2763-2016《食品安全国家标准食品中农药最大残留限量》的限量值。茶叶中残留农药HI值远远小于1,处在安全的健康风险水平。     

菌菇速溶茶加工关键技术研究与开发

以红茶和香菇为原料,通过微波程序化升温混料直提、二级切向流微滤-反渗透膜组合浓缩和喷雾干燥制备菌菇速溶茶产品,并对加工过程中的相关各工艺参数进行了研究。所制得的菌菇速溶茶产品呈粉末状,无结块,色泽红棕色,有较显著的菌香;冲泡后,汤色橙红,滋味醇厚伴有浓浓的菌菇味;产品中多糖含量高于15%,多酚含量高于16%,兼具菌菇和红茶的功效和风味,市场前景广阔。     

Tracking residual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in green,herbal, and black tea leaves and infusions of commercially available tea products marketed in Poland

The content of residual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was examined in green, herbal, and black tea leaves as well as in their infusions prepared from tea products marketed in the main supermarkets in Poland. It was found that the detected mean levels of organochlorine residues in tea leaves ranged from ?1 dry weight. Among hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, γ-HCH in green tea occurred in the highest concentrations. Among dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolites the highest level of p,p′DDT (1.96 ng g^?1 dw) was in green tea samples. The transfer of OCPs from tea leaves to brew was investigated. The present study revealed that during the infusion process, a significant percentage of the residues, particularly pesticides with high water solubility, were transferred to the infusions. The obtained results show that the percentage transfer of each pesticides from tea to the tea infusions ranged from 6.74% (heptachlor) to 86.6% (endrin). The detected residues were below current MRLs for these pesticides.     

冲泡型灵芝白茶的制备及其茶汤的抗氧化活性

以白茶、白芝、云芝和黑芝为原料制备冲泡型灵芝白茶,并以茶多酚作为阳性对照,以·OH、DPPH自由基、·O₂^-的清除率以及Fe²⁺诱导卵黄脂蛋白脂质过氧化的抑制率为指标,探究不同冲泡次数和冲泡时间对灵芝白茶茶汤抗氧化活性的影响。结果表明,以白茶2.5 g、白芝0.4 g、云芝0.55 g、黑芝0.3 g混合制备成3.75g/袋的灵芝白茶感官品质最佳;冲泡次数、冲泡时间及二者交互作用对灵芝白茶茶汤抗氧化活性均具有极显著影响(P <0.01),且灵芝白茶3.75 g经200 mL开水(> 95℃)冲泡3 min后除渣所得茶汤的抗氧化活性最高(P <0.05),其对·OH的清除率为(74.05±0.82)%,与0.45 mg/mL茶多酚相当(P> 0.05);对·O₂^-的清除率达到(55.86±2.23)%,与0.40 mg/mL茶多酚相当(P> 0.05);对DPPH自由基清除率为(63.07±2.37)%,高于0.45 mg/mL茶多酚(P <0...     

红茶中香气物质的形成及工艺对其影响的研究进展

香气是影响红茶品质的重要因素,它的形成与加工工艺密切相关。在红茶加工中,香气物质主要经过糖苷类水解、氨基酸的斯却克尔(Strecker)降解、美拉德反应、脂肪酸的氧化以及β-胡萝卜素降解等反应生成。这些反应在萎凋、揉捻、发酵、干燥工序中综合作用形成了红茶丰富多样的香型。本文主要从红茶香气物质形成的反应类型以及加工工艺对香气物质形成的影响两个方面进行阐述,旨在为红茶加工提供理论基础。     

Fenvalerate residue level and dissipation in tea and in its infusion

Fenvalerate is a non-systemic insecticide/acaricide used in controlling a wide range of pests, including those resistant to organochlorine, organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides. The study investigated the dissipation behaviour (residue level) of fenvalerate in tea and its transfer during infusion. Fenvalerate was applied on tea crop at two dosages, 100 and 200?g a.i.?ha^?1 (recommended and double the recommended) in the dry and wet seasons under field conditions. Samples (green tea shoots, made tea, its infusion and spent leaves) were analysed for fenvalerate by high-performance liquid chromatography using diode array detection. The residue dissipated faster in the wet season than in the dry season. Seven days after the treatment (normal round of plucking) the residues observed in the green shoots at the two dosages were 0.5?±?0.01, 1.1?±?0.01 and 0.4?±?0.02, 0.9?±?0.01?mg?kg^?1 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. During processing of green tea shoots to made tea a 30–40% loss of residue was observed. The transfer of residue from made tea to infusion was in the range 10–30% for both seasons, whereas 50–70% of the residues remained in the spent leaves. However, the degradation rate in both seasons followed first-order kinetics. The half-lives were in the range of 2–3 days for green shoots and made tea in both seasons.     

萎凋叶含水量对四川中小叶群体种工夫红茶品质形成的影响

目的探索萎凋程度对重庆工夫红茶品质形成的影响。方法以四川中小叶群体种为研究对象,分析比较了3个萎凋含水量:处理A(69.59%)、处理B(65.17%)、处理C(59.20%)萎凋叶红茶加工过程中色泽、多酚氧化酶(polyphenylene oxide, PPO)活性变化及对后续揉捻效果、生化成分、工夫红茶成茶品质形成的影响。结果随着萎凋水分的降低,萎凋叶L*, b*值呈下降的趋势, a*值呈上升的趋势, 4～6 h时均出现了与总体趋势相反的波动;加工过程中,各处理L*,b*值均呈下降的趋势,a*值在发酵前呈增高的趋势,干燥后值减小。成茶色泽L*a*b*值则均表现为处理A处理C处理B。加工过程中PPO活性呈先升后降的趋势,随萎凋程度的加重,高峰往后延迟且活性越强,处理C在发酵环节中活性最高。揉捻环节随着萎凋叶含水量的降低成条率越高,扁条率越低,细胞破碎率越高,处理C效果最好。内含物质随着萎凋叶含水量的减少,茶多酚先增后减,氨基酸先减后增,咖啡碱呈先减后增再减式起伏变化;水浸出物、可溶性糖差异不明显;成茶中处理C综合感官品质表现最好。结论萎凋叶含水量在60%左右时,有利于发挥四川中小叶群体种品种优势,加工出的工夫红茶品质良好。     

Monitoring and risk assessment of 74 pesticide residues in Pu-erh tea produced in Yunnan,China

A number of 100 Pu-erh tea samples from the 2013 harvest in Yunnan Province (China) were analysed for 74 pesticides. A total of 11 pesticides were detected. At least one pesticide was detected in 56% of the samples. None of these samples contained the 74 monitored pesticides at concentrations above the Chinese maximum residual levels. Imidacloprid, bifenthrin and acetamiprid were most frequently found, with percentages of 53%, 46% and 31%, respectively. These were also the top three pesticides with maximum concentrations of 140, 246 and 672 μg kg^?1, respectively. Residual levels of the monitored pesticides showed no significant correlation with the production time or area of Pu-erh tea. Whereas a high incidence of pesticide residues was detected in Pu-erh tea, the contamination levels observed do not pose any serious health risks.     

花香型红茶加工过程中香气成分变化分析

为了解花香型红茶的香气成分在加工过程中的变化,本研究以黄山群体种一芽二、三叶的茶鲜叶为材料,通过传统加工工艺制得普通工夫红茶,通过萎凋、摇青、揉捻、发酵、干燥的制作工序,制得花香型红茶。利用顶空固相微萃取法和气相色谱-质谱联用仪分析其香气成分及组成比例,并探讨其变化规律。结果表明：花香型红茶与普通工夫红茶在香叶醇、水杨酸甲酯、α-毕橙茄醇、香叶基丙酮等成分上存在显著区别,其中水杨酸甲酯、反-2-己烯基己酸等在摇青叶中大量生成,苯甲醛、香叶醇等在发酵阶段相对含量大量增加,3,7-二甲基-1,5,7-辛三烯-3-醇、反,反-2,4-壬二烯醛、（Z）-己酸-3-己烯酯等在成品茶干燥阶段相对含量增加;在花香型红茶的加工过程中,反-2-辛烯醛、苯乙醛等物质的相对含量发生了较大变化,反,反-2,4-壬二烯醛、反-2,4-癸二烯醛、（Z）-己酸-3-己烯酯、反-2-己烯基己酸等物质相对含量逐渐升高,香叶醇、水杨酸甲酯、α-毕橙茄醇等物质相对含量逐渐降低。     

Influence of withering, including leaf handling, on the manufacturing and quality of black teas - a review

Literature on the influence of withering on maceration, fermentation and drying and on black tea quality is reviewed. The importance of including the handling of the leaf in the field and during transportation as an integral part of withering is stressed. The influence of physical and chemical changes in the green leaf, during withering, on the quality of black teas is discussed. Withering practices vary with climate, producing region, the type of manufacturing process and demands by the markets. Mechanised withering may improve quality by reduced handling of the leaf. The influence of plucking standards on withering and the effect of withering on the storage of tea are discussed.