Estimation of theaflavin content in black tea using electronic tongue

Biochemical components like theaflavins (TF) play very important role in the quality of finished CTC (cut, torn, and curled) variety of tea. TF are known to provide characteristic astringency to the taste of finished CTC tea. The quality indicators like brightness, briskness, strength, color and overall quality of tea liquor are also due to the amount of TF present. A positive correlation is normally observed between the amount of TF and the quality scores of finished tea. Biochemical tests that yield the percentage of TF are often time consuming, require meticulous effort of sample preparation, storage and measurement. This paper proposes an alternative approach of quality evaluation of CTC tea by predicting the amount of TF that may be present in a given tea sample, using a voltammetric electronic tongue.     

Biological and chemical factors affecting the valuations of north-east indian plains teas: II.—Statistical evaluation of the biochemical constituents and their effects on briskness,quality and cash valuations of black teas

An attempt has been made to determine, by using the multiple regression technique, the most importank biochemical constituents affecting ‘briskness’, ‘quality’ and ‘cash valuation’ and also their effects on these liquor characteristics and on the cash valuation of North-East Indian plains black teas. The multiple regression analyses showed that regardless of tasters, for crushing, tearing and curling (C.T.C.) manufactured teas, five biochemical constituents—total oxygen uptake and theogallin (TG) of unprocessed tea shoots, and theoflavin (TF), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and TG of black tea—together accounted for the major part of the total variations in each of briskness, quality and cash valuation. For orthodox manufactured teas, seven constituents—enzyme activity, total oxygen uptake and ECG of unprocessed tea shoots, and TF, ECG, TG and water-soluble solids (other than ash, TF, thearubigin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG),ECG, TG, caffeine nitrogen and amino acid nitrogen) of black tea—together accounted for the major part of the total variations in briskness, quality and cash valuation. Further, regardless of tasters and methods of manufacture, four biochemical constituents—total oxygen uptake of unprocessed tea shoots, and TF, ECG and TG of black tea—were the main guiding constituents of a desirable North-East Indian plains tea because these four constituents together accounted for about 50% of the total variations in each of briskness, quality and cash valuation, both of C.T.C. and orthodox teas. The effects of total oxygen uptake and TF on each of briskness, quality and cash valuation, both of C.T.C. and orthodox teas, were generally found to be beneficial, whereas the effects of ECG and TG of black tea were generally beneficial only beyond certain concentrations.     

Quality standards of CTC black teas as influenced by sources of potassium fertiliser

The quality aspects of CTC (crush, tear and curl) black teas were examined against different sources of potassium fertiliser. Potassium supplied as muriate of potash (MOP) improved the liquor components such as theaflavin (TF), thearubigin (TR) and TF/TR ratio at higher levels. The same effect was noticed at lower level itself when the source of K was changed to sulfate of potash (SOP). Termination of K application reduced the TF/TR ratio drastically. The entity responsible for strength, body and colour of tea brew, namely highly polymerised substances, attained its optimum proportion at an NK ratio of 1:0.21 using SOP. Generally, there was a good response from SOP‐treated blocks to caffeine. The flavour index was a maximum at a 1:0.42 NK ratio, using SOP. A slight peak and trough were observed in the case of crude fibre content and water extract over control and MOP‐treated blocks. The leaf K content was negatively correlated with CFC content of made tea. An antagonism was observed between leaf K and Mg. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological and chemical factors affecting the valuations of north-east indian plains teas: I.—Statistical association of liquor characteristics with cash valuations of black teas

An attempt has been made, by using the multiple regression technique, to determine whether the term ‘quality’ of the North-East Indian plains black teas has its own single characteristic as recognisable by tea- tasters or if it is the integration of some of the other important liquor characteristics, viz., colour, strength, brightness and briskness, and to determine the influence of those liquor characteristics including quality on the ‘cash valuations’ of black teas. The multiple regression analyses showed that in general, regardless of tasters and methods of manufacture, quality of North-East Indian plains black tea was found to depend mainly on briskness, quality being increased with an increase in briskness. Cash valuations, both of crushing, tearing and curling (C.T.C.) and orthodox manufactured teas, in general, depended mainly on quality and/or briskness, cash valuation being increased with increase in quality and/or briskness.     

不同等级CTC红碎茶生化成分分析

以不同等级CTC红碎茶为研究对象,通过对感官审评、生化成分和挥发性成分比较分析,探明不同等级CTC红碎茶的品质特点,为CTC红茶加工工艺的改进和品质提升提供借鉴。结果表明,不同等级CTC红碎茶中游离氨基酸和可溶性糖含量没有显著差别(p<0.05),咖啡碱含量增加显著(p<0.05),茶多酚则显著降低(p<0.05)。儿茶素组分含量整体下降,茶黄素、茶红素和茶褐素总量增加,茶红素和茶褐素比值变化与汤色色泽变化一致。不同等级CTC红碎茶中以法尼基焦磷酸/牻牛儿基焦磷酸前体物形成的挥发性成分为主。因此,茶多酚、咖啡碱和茶红素含量是调节不同等级CTC红碎茶品质的主要原因。不同等级CTC红碎茶主体挥发性成分并没有改变。     

Chemical characterisation of CTC black tea of northeast India: correlation of quality parameters with tea tasters' evaluation

BACKGROUND: Consumers have different regional perceptions of tea quality. Objective evaluation based on biochemical data for different regions has been needed for a long time. Biochemical factors regulating this variation would help to remove regional disparities. This study was undertaken on CTC (crust, tear and curl) black tea to generate the biochemical data responsible for quality along with tea tasters' evaluation of three geographical regions of northeast India and to determine the reason for the variation. RESULTS: Brahmaputra valley teas had highest theaflavin (TF), thearubigin (TR), brightness (BR) and total colour (TC) and low crude fibre content (CFC) and total polyphenol (TPP). Brahmaputra valley and Dooars region teas showed high total soluble solid (TSS). Barak valley teas had highest CFC and low TSS, caffeine (CA), TF, TR and TC. Dooars region teas had high CA and TPP and low BR. Dooars region and Barak valley teas contained higher levels of residual catechin than Brahmaputra valley teas. CONCLUSION: Overall quality as evaluated by tea tasters was found to be highest for Brahmaputra valley teas followed by Dooars region and Barak valley teas. This high evaluation can be attributed to higher levels of TF, TR, BR and TSS. Barak valley and Dooars region teas contained high residual catechin, indicating limitation in oxidation during processing. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological and chemical factors affecting the valuation of North East Indian plains teas. III. Statistical Evaluation of the Biochemical Constituents and their Effects on Colour,Brightness and Strength of Black Teas

Regardless of tasters and methods of manufacture five biochemical factors, total oxygen uptake of unprocessed tea shoots and theaflavins (TF), thearubigins (TR), (?)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCE) and theogallin (TG), of black tea are the main contributing factors of colour of North East India plains tea. Similarly, three constituents, TF, TR and (?)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) of black tea, are main the factors for brightness. Four factors, total oxygen uptake and ECG of unprocessed tea shoots and TF and moisture of black tea are the main contributing factors of strength of North East Indian plains tea.     

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.     

A reliable technique to identify superior quality clones from tea germplasm

Variations in the substrate level and enzyme activity of prominent south Indian tea germplasm were studied. The content of polyphenols, catechins (substrates) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) showed variation, which influenced the final black tea quality. The enzyme PPO occurs in tea shoots and catalyzes the reactions between catechins to form theaflavins in the presence of oxygen. The catechins mainly epicatechin (EC), epigallo catechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallo catechin (EGC) get mixed with PPO during the oxidation process to form quality constituents like theaflavins (TF), thearubigins (TR) and high polymerized substances (HPS). Theaflavins and their fractions such as simple theaflavin, theaflavin monogallate, (TFMG), theaflavin digallate (TFDG) in black tea are the essential quality constituents that are responsible for the liquor characteristics where as TR and high polymerized substances impart colour to the liquor. As oxidation of macerated leaves proceed through different stages of tea manufacture, a decline in PPO activity, polyphenol and catechin contents were observed. Data revealed that the oxidation reaction was faster during the initial stages of oxidation. During the period, oxygen consumption was higher and declined thereafter. Ratio between the enzyme (PPO) and its substrate (catechins) were used to characterize the quality potential of tea clones. An attempt has also been made to categorize prominent tea clones as high, moderate and average quality clones based on their enzyme substrate ratio. Theaflavin content (oxidation product) of different tea clones suggests that the ratio between PPO and catechins forms an important criterion which determines black tea quality. Results obtained were compared with standard clones of known high quality (CR-6017) and moderate quality (SA-6). The study reveals that the enzyme substrate ratio can be used to identify superior quality clones from the existing tea germplasm.     

Changes in the chemical and sensory quality parameters of black tea due to variations of fermentation time and temperature

The changes in theaflavins and residual catechin compositions, thearubigins TRSI and TRSII, sensory characteristics of total colour, brightness and briskness of black tea were investigated. It was demonstrated that the degradation of individual theaflavins varied during fermentation. Decline in the levels of individual theaflavins was influenced by both duration and temperature and coincided with decline in brightness and briskness. ECG and EGCG were the main residual catechins in black tea. The formation of thearubigins TRSI and TRSII, differed in their response to fermentation duration and temperature. The effects of processing parameters, fermentation temperature and duration, on chemical quality and tea liquor sensory characteristics are discussed.     

Biochemical quality characteristics of CTC black teas of south India and their relation to organoleptic evaluation

A study was conducted over a period of 5 years to quantify the quality characteristics of CTC (crush, tear and curl) black teas produced in Wayanad, Central Travancore, Anamallais, High Range, Nilgiris and Chikmagalur areas of south India and their correlation with organoleptic evaluation. Quality characteristics such as theaflavins (TF), thearubigins (TR), highly polymerised substances (HPS), total liquor colour (TLC), TR/TF ratio and colour index (CI) were estimated. Teas from Karnataka, Nilgiris and Anamallais had the highest theaflavin content and better TR/TF ratio than the teas from Travancore, High Range and Wayanad regions. A significant positive correlation of theaflavin content with the values of thearubigins, total liquor colour, colour index, infused leaf appearance (ILA) and taste (TAS) was observed.     

植物源多酚氧化酶氧化儿茶素形成茶黄素和聚酯型儿茶素的研究

目的:筛选出催化儿茶素氧化形成TFs和TSs的最佳酶源。方法:以丰水梨、贡梨、香梨、红富士苹果、茶鲜叶、漆酶等作为试验材料,研究不同来源PPO酶活性,并比较其对TFs和TSs合成的影响。结果:丰水梨PPO酶活性最高,为621.4 U/(min·g),是茶鲜叶酶活性的2.8倍。PPO合成TFs能力及质量浓度从大到小依次为丰水梨(0.228 mg/mL)、红富士苹果(0.011 mg/mL)、漆酶(0.008 mg/mL),其中丰水梨PPO有利于TF-3'-G和TFDG的合成,而其他PPO则有利于TF的合成;PPO合成TSs能力及质量浓度从大到小依次为:丰水梨(0.958 mg/mL)、漆酶(0.158 mg/mL)、红富士苹果(0.100 mg/mL),丰水梨PPO有利于TSA和TSB的合成,红富士苹果PPO、漆酶则有利于TSA和TSC的合成;在丰水梨、红富士苹果、漆酶这3种酶的催化作用下,TSs的合成量均高于TFs。结论:丰水梨PPO具有比红富士苹果、漆酶更强的合成TFs和TSs的能力。     

Phenolic compounds in tea from Australian supermarkets

Phenolic compounds constitute 50–70% of tea water extract and are the main quality parameters for teas. Theaflavins (TF), thearubigins (TR) and theabrownins (TB) are the major polyphenols that determine the quality of black tea. These compounds were measured in 56 leaf teas and teabags sampled from Australian supermarkets in Queensland. The various quantities of TF, ranging from 0.29% to 1.25%, indicate a quality difference that exists among the teas studied. Low TF content in black tea may be due to over-fermenting and/or long periods of storage. The solubility of TR and TB from teabags ranged from 82% to 92%, indicating that the permeability of teabags was variable. Variable quantities of TF in Australian teas show instability and a tendency of TF to oxidize during storage. Total polyphenols in green teas ranged from 14% to 34%, indicating a large variation, which was not reflected in price. The solubility of total polyphenols from teabags has been proposed as a useful quality index of the filtering paper used for the teabags. This chemical analysis of phenolic compounds in commercial teas may be a potential tool for the quality control of Australian manufactured and imported teas in Australian markets.     

Optimisation of withered leaf moisture during the manufacture of black tea based upon theaflavins fractions

A study was conducted to see the effect of different moisture content of withered leaf on the activity of oxidative enzymes polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (PO) and on the formation of theaflavins (TFs) and thearubigins (TRs). Six commercially popular cultivars TV1, TV7, TV9, TV23, TV26 and T.3E/3 of Assam, India, were processed in four different moisture levels (72%, 70%, 68% and 65%). Significant reduction in PPO and PO enzymes, TFs, TRs and theaflavin digallate equivalent was observed with the decrease in moisture content of withered leaf. The TFs (0.83–5.4 mg g^?1) and TRs (23–107 mg g^?1) fractions were lowest at moisture level 65 ± 1%. Of the six cultivars studied, better quality of black tea was obtained for cultivar TV1, TV9 and TV23 at 70 ± 1% moisture content, while for TV7 and TV26, it was 68 ± 1%. Withered leaf moisture content should be carefully chosen to obtain the better quality tea from specific cultivar.     

浸提条件对红茶色素(TR/TF)浸出率的影响及红茶汤浸提工艺优化研究

试验采用单因素设计,研究浸提温度、浸提时间、茶水比、pH值四大因素对红茶汁中茶红素(TR)、茶黄素(TF)浸出率的影响,并通过正交试验设计,分别以TR/TF浸出率和浸提液感官综合评分作为考察指标,确定了红茶汤最佳浸提工艺。结果表明:当红茶汤中TR含量过高或过低,TR/TF比值过高或过低时,红茶汤的感官品质并不是很好,红茶汤的感官品质与TR/TF的浸出率不成正相关。红茶汤较优的浸提工艺为:浸提温度85℃、时间15min、茶水比1:40、pH5.5,在这一浸提条件下得到的红茶汤光泽透明,呈红棕色,且具有红茶汤特有的香气,味感纯正,爽口。     

日照红茶初制过程主要生化成分变化的研究

研究了日照红茶初制过程主要生化成分如茶多酚、儿茶素总量、游离氨基酸、咖啡碱,以及儿茶素类组分(EGC、C、EC、EGCG、ECG)、水溶性茶色素(茶黄素、茶红素、茶褐素)含量的变化。结果表明,茶多酚、儿茶素总量呈明显的下降;游离氨基酸、咖啡碱含量在整个初制过程中总体呈现下降趋势;儿茶素类组分以酯型儿茶素EGCG、ECG变化尤为剧烈,在揉捻工序已经完全转化消失;水溶性茶色素TF、TR和TB含量呈现上升的趋势,毛茶的TR/TF比值为10.27。此外,文章还对日照红茶与南方红茶的主要生化成分进行了比较分析,以研究北方茶叶制成红茶的特点。     

Suitability for minimal processing of non‐melting clingstone peaches

Clingstone non‐melting peach cultivars (Prunus persica L. Batsch) are used primarily for canning, but their processing as fresh‐cut products is also of interest. Four clingstone peach cultivars (‘Andross’, ‘Babygold 8′, ‘Calante’ and ‘Romea’) were evaluated for their suitability for minimal processing (washing, peeling and slicing) followed by storage for 9 days at 4 °C in a modified atmosphere using microperforated films. Romea cultivar, which has low polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymatic activity, proved to be the most suitable cultivar for minimal processing, given its lower degree of browning as well as the results from a sensory evaluation. Maturity indicators varied slightly during storage at a different degree depending on cultivars. We have found that PPO activity and browning potential are adequate indicators for surface browning in fresh‐cut non‐melting peaches.     

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.     

Rapid method for measuring thearubigins and theaflavins in black tea using C18 sorbent cartridges

This communication describes the routine use of small inexpensive C₁₈ cartridges for rapid separation and accurate measurement of both thearubigins (TR) and theaflavins (TF) in a liquor brewed from black tea. The slow, traditional method overestimates TR content because of interference from flavonol glycosides. Comparison is also made favourably with other methods available for estimating total TF and sometimes TR in tea.     

Storage deterioration in Central African tea: Methods of reducing the rate of theaflavin degradation

Processes which reduced residual enzyme activity were successful in reducing the rate of loss of theaflavin (TF) during storage. The rate of TF deterioration was also reduced when tea was stored under extreme conditions of low temperature, low moisture and low oxygen availability. Acid treatment of tea during the fermentation stage of manufacture markedly reduced residual enzyme activity and effectively conserved TF levels in commercial consignments of tea.