Hastening of leaf senescence in the processing of green tea leaf to black tea

The current system of processing green tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) to produce black tea involves a long period, especially because of the withering process practised in acquiring leaf senescence which is essential to impart fullness to the resulting tea liquors. Hastening leaf senescence by artificial withering at temperatures favourable to enzymic transformations accelerated the process and considerably shortened the manufacture of black teas.     

Effect of withering on the polyphenol oxidase level in the tea leaf

The level of polyphenol oxidase in tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) decreased on partial desiccation of the leaf during the withering process of black tea manufacture. However, sufficient activity remained, even after withering, to oxidise the available substrate in the leaf. The loss in activity due to desiccation was restored on rehydration.     

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.     

The effect of process parameters on seasonal development of flavour in black tea

Analysis by g.l.c. of ether–extractable steam volatile constituents of black tea from a high elevation tea estate in the Western Region (Dimbulla District) of Sri Lanka during seasonal flavour development, indicated the presence of trans-2-hexenal, n-butyraldehyde, cis-3-hexenol, 1-octen-3-ol linalool, methyl salicylate and geraniol as the main flavour constituents. Of these, trans-2-hexenal and linalool showed appreciable seasonal changes in black tea. Leaf quality and manufacturing practices, particularly withering and fermentation, influenced the production of these compounds during black tea manufacture. It is suggested that the relative concentration of these compounds may be partly responsible for the typical flavour quality of Sri Lanka black teas and these may be used as indices of flavour development.     

Changes in enzyme activities (polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase) with type of tea leaf and during black tea manufacture and the effect of enzyme supplementation of dhool on black tea quality

Variation in polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities with respect to different cultural and manufacturing processes and their effects on black tea quality were studied. There was a wide variation between enzyme activities of different clones, as well as variation due to seasonal changes and shoot maturity. Field practices such as plucking rounds and pruning had a great impact on enzyme activities. The enzyme activities positively correlated with tasters' scores. The extent of change in enzyme activities at different stages of manufacture differed widely. The loss of activity during withering could be restored by rehydration. Residual activity was observed in made tea. Supplementation of enzymes enhanced the black tea quality markedly in terms of cuppage and creaming properties.     

红茶加工过程中纤维素酶和主要品质成分的动态变化

为探究红茶在日光萎凋、揉捻、发酵等加工工序中纤维素酶和主要品质成分的变化规律,本研究以凫早2号(C.sinensis cv.Fuzao2)为原料,测定红茶加工过程中β-葡萄糖苷酶、内切葡聚糖酶及外切葡聚糖酶的活性,同时分析了可溶性糖、儿茶素、咖啡碱、游离氨基酸等主要品质成分含量的动态变化。结果表明,β-葡萄糖苷酶活性、儿茶素总量、氨基酸总量在日光萎凋阶段结束后达到最高值,分别是0.091 U(10 min)-1·mL-1、97.6 mg/g、38.9315 mg/g,揉捻阶段迅速下降后趋于稳定;内切葡聚糖酶活性在日光萎凋开始至发酵结束呈持续上升趋势,从0.19 U(10 min)-1·mL-1增加至0.51 U(10 min)-1·mL-1;可溶性糖含量在揉捻、发酵期间下降迅速,而外切葡聚糖酶活性和咖啡碱含量在红茶加工过程中变化不显著。     

日本制茶新技术及新产品

日本制茶新技术主要是:(1)利用冷冻→减压→高频干燥新工艺制作速溶茶。(2)利用远红外加温萎凋及调整pH值和充氮技术提高乌龙茶与乌龙茶罐装茶水质量。(3)添加天然植物芳香物质提高茶叶香气。(4)应用“半透膜”浸透技术加工冰茶以及冷冻真空干燥新工艺制作绿茶。目前开发的茶叶新产品有:(1)茶藻保健茶及其液态饮料。(2)粉末红茶与速溶红茶。(3)富钙高维茶等。     

Studies on freeze-withering in black tea manufacturing

In order to reduce the withering time during black tea manufacture, freeze-withering was attempted, which resulted in flaccid leaves with increased cell membrane permeability in a shorter period of time. The freeze-withered leaves had similar amounts of quality precursors as that of the conventionally withered leaves. The resultant black tea was better in quality than those manufactured without withering and after normal withering. Manufacturing of fresh leaves resulted in comparable levels of theaflavins, but the tea was not acceptable due to its harshness. Increased cell membrane permeability during freeze-withering showed that the leaf attained a sufficient degree of physical wither. The decreases in the levels of chlorophyll showed that chemical withering had also been achieved during freeze-withering, which is supported by the increased levels of caffeine.     

Relationship between process of withering and aroma characteristics of black tea

Volatile flavour components (VFC), caffeine, crude fibre, ash and total water soluble solids (TSS) were analysed in orthodox and CTC black teas manufactured from normal and hard withered leaves. With the increase of wither, VFC, TSS and caffeine were found to increase but not crude fibre. The withering process in black tea manufacture appears to control the development of terpenoids, improving flavour quality in brewed tea.     

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     

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.     

Influence of polyphenol oxidase activity and polyphenol content of tea shoot on quality of black tea

Variation in polyphenot oxidase activity and levels of total polyphenols and catechins with respect to different clones and shoot components, and its effect on quality of black tea (Camellia sinensis (L) 0 Kuntze, were studied. There was a wide variation in polyphenol oxidase activity of the different clones tested. The optimum fermentation time and polyphenol oxidase activity of different clones exhibited a hyperbolic relationship, viz y = 2.36 + 1129/x, where y = optimum fermentation time in minutes and x = polyphenol oxidase activity in μM catechol oxidised g^?1 acetone powder min^?1, with an r value of ?0.98, which is signi Jicant at P ≤ 0.001. A good non-linear relationship was found between polyphenol oxidase activity of ji-esh tea shoots of different clones and the theajavins content of corresponding black teas. Among different shoot components, bud and first leaf had higher levels of polyphenols and catechins than internodes. However, the polyphenol oxidase activity showed a reverse trend: the internodes exhibited a higher enzyme activity compared with other components. Formation of theajavins during fermentation of different shoot components was in good agreement with polyphenol oxidase activity. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the theaflavins fraction in tea brew of black teas made from different components of tea shoot showed that buds resulted in black tea with the highest amount of theaflavin gallates, whereas teas produced from internodes had the lowest amount of theaflavin gallates. A new factor, viz theaflavin digallate equivalent, was developed, and the significance of this factor for chemical evaluation of black tea quality is discussed in this paper.     

不同萎凋和发酵处理对“汝城白毛茶”加工红茶品质的影响

近年来国内红茶,尤其是一些特色优质红茶备受青睐,汝城白毛茶作为湖南特色茶树资源,所加工的红茶特色鲜明。为充分发挥汝城白毛茶特色资源的特色,探明其红茶适宜性、个性化加工技术,该研究以春季一芽一叶为原料,从萎凋(A因子4水平)和发酵(B因子7水平),进行2因素不同水平的L₂₈(4¹×7¹)共28个处理,对在制品叶象指标、成品感官审评、各单项评分、品质成分等进行分析,重点探讨萎凋、发酵对汝城白毛茶红茶品质特征的影响及工艺优化。结果表明汝城白毛茶加工红茶采用中、偏重萎凋,萎凋至含水量56%～60%为佳,发酵时间以6～8 h为宜。通过该参数萎凋和发酵加工而成的红茶呈现出金毫满披,花蜜香浓郁,红浓明亮,滋味浓、强(醇)、厚、鲜、爽、甘等优质红茶特点,具湖南红茶"花蜜香、甘鲜味"核心品质特征。     

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     

贵州代表性茶树品种茶青萎凋期游离氨基酸动态分析及评价

该研究对福鼎、金观音和黔茶1号3个贵州代表性品种萎凋处理,基于高效液相色谱分析不同萎凋期茶鲜叶中游离氨基酸含量动态变化,结合味道活性值和特殊氨基酸分析,探究不同品种萎凋期游离氨基酸差异,增加对品种适制性的理解。结果表明,萎凋期间游离氨基酸含量总体呈上升趋势;必需氨基酸占比均值黔茶1号最高(33.200%),金观音次之(31.451%),福鼎最低(24.666%);药用氨基酸占比均值以黔茶1号最高(48.234%),福鼎次之(41.412%),金观音最低(40.971%)。鲜味氨基酸占比均值:黔茶1号(26.19%)>福鼎(25.14%)>金观音(22.23%);甜味氨基酸占比均值:黔茶1号(22.47%)>福鼎(15.63%)>金观音(13.70%);苦味氨基酸占比均值:黔茶1号(27.23%)>金观音(26.53%)>福鼎(20.45%)。由茶氨酸、谷氨酸构成的鲜味,丙氨酸、丝氨酸构成的甜味及组氨酸、蛋氨酸构成的苦味与萎凋时间呈相关性。研究明确了萎凋期品种间差异和不同呈味氨基酸变化规律,为改进萎凋工艺提升贵州绿茶品质提供理论依据。     

光质萎凋对不同茶树品种红茶品质的影响

本文以室内自然萎凋为对照,比较红光、黄光、蓝光的不同光强（1000、1500、2000 lx）对不同品种红茶感官品质和主要成分的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,光质萎凋能保持或提升福鼎大白茶、蜀永1号萎凋叶游离氨基酸含量,保持或提高了四川中小叶种红茶茶黄素含量;蓝光可提升蜀永1号、四川中小叶种红茶可溶性糖含量,还可降低福鼎大白茶、蜀永1号红茶茶褐素含量。黄光光强与福鼎大白茶红茶可溶性糖含量呈显著正相关,与四川中小叶种茶褐素含量存在极显著正相关,与蜀永1号萎凋叶和红茶茶多酚含量呈较大负相关,但不显著,而蓝光光强与四川中小叶种红茶可溶性糖含量呈较大正相关,但不显著。综合感官品质,福鼎大白茶红茶最佳的萎凋光质为1500 lx黄光、2000 lx黄光,茶红素含量较高,分别为2.211%、2.049%,而茶褐素含量较低,分别为3.081%、3.025%;蜀永1号红茶最佳的萎凋光质为1500 lx黄光,游离氨基酸含量最高,为2.8%;四川中小叶种红茶最佳的萎凋光质为1500 lx黄光、1500 lx蓝光,前者游离氨基酸含量较高,为3.4%,后者茶黄素含量较高,为0.280%,茶褐素含量较低,为2.937%。所以1500 lx黄光有利于提升所选品种红茶品质。     

Effects of season and nitrogen fertiliser upon the flavanol composition and tea making quality of fresh shoots of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) in Central Africa

The concentration of flavanols in fresh apical shoots of tea was highest during the cold season. Shoots plucked during slow growth conditions contained a higher proportion of simple catechins to catechin gallates, (?)-epigallocatechin being most significantly affected. The predominant effect of nitrogen fertiliser was to depress the concentration of (?)-epigallocatechin in the shoot. The significance of these findings with respect to tea quality is discussed.     

The effect of withering on fermentation of tea leaf and development of liquor characters of black teas

Depression in polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity during the withering of tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) in black tea manufacture affected the oxidative-condensation of tea flavanols in forming theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR), which are associated with brightness, briskness and ‘body’ of tea liquors. In contrast to conventionally manufactured CTC teas, unwithered fresh leaf CTC produces a higher proportion of TF and lower TR, resulting in bright, brisk and thin liquors. Hardness of wither was accompanied by a further depression in PPO activity, and formation of TF also declined with a concomitant loss in brightness and briskness. The TR content increased up to a certain degree of wither and thereby improved the ‘body’ of the liquor. Very hard wither, accompanied by a large reduction in moisture content, restricts PPO activity. It appears that in the fresh leaf, high moisture levels together with dissolved oxygen accelerate the enzymic oxidation and produce large amounts of TF. Senescence of the leaf seems to facilitate the production of TR.     

Some studies on carotenoids and their degradation in black tea manufacture

The four major carotenoids, β-carotene, lutein, violaxanthine and neoxanthine were estimated spectroscopically in four different Tocklai Experimental Station released tea clones, namely, TV-1 (China hybrid), TV-2 (Assam(Betjan) variety), TV-9 (Assam-Cambod variety) and TV-17 (China hybrid). The quantitative changes of these carotenoids in different stages of black-tea manufacture were also studied in TV-2 (less flavoury) and TV-17 (flavoury) clones against TV-1 as standard. Comparative study showed that TV-2 contained the least amount of these carotenoids where as TV-9 and TV-17 contained greater amounts. All these carotenoids were found to decrease appreciably during black-tea manufacture. The decrease was found to be higher in the curling, tearing, crushing method than in the conventional orthodox method of tea manufacture. The changes of two of these carotenoids viz. β-carotene and lutein were not significant statistically during withering but were highly significant during fermentation. However, the reverse was true for violaxanthine where as the neoxanthine shows significant changes in both of these stages. The vitamin-A value was calculated from the residual β-carotene amount, pro-vitamin A, in black tea.     

Fate of imidacloprid and acetamiprid residues during black tea manufacture and transfer into tea infusion

The objective of this paper is to investigate the loss/stability of neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and acetamiprid) residues during the manufacture of black tea and to study the transfer of these pesticides from made tea to its infusion. For orthodox black tea, the manufacturing process involves leaf harvesting (plucking two leaves and a bud), withering, rolling, fermentation (oxidation), and drying. Initial withering and final drying resulted in the loss of pesticide residues, but no significant reduction in residue levels resulted from the rolling and fermentation steps. The drying process resulted in a residue transfer of 64–70% and 69–74% of the initial level, whereas the brewing process resulted in a residue transfer of 37–39% and 45–49% of imidacloprid and acetamiprid, respectively, from dried tea into the infusion. The decrease in acetamiprid levels during drying was also significant (8–13%), whereas the total loss during the manufacturing process ranged from 26 to 31%. Further, brewing for longer periods (an extended brewing time) resulted in higher transfer (up to 44% for imidacloprid and 53% for acetamiprid) of pesticides to tea infusion. Further, the extent of pesticide leaching depends on its water solubility, partition coefficient, and the brewing time.