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Flavor characteristics and chemical compositions of oolong tea processed using different semi-fermentation times

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Abstract

Flavor characteristics and chemical compositions of Tieguanyin oolong tea processed using different semi-fermentation times were investigated. Six flavor attributes of the teas, namely, astringency, bitterness, umami, sweet aftertaste, floral flavor, and green fruity flavor, were analysed. With extended semi-fermentation time, the taste intensity of sweet aftertaste increased, and the aroma intensity of floral and green fruity flavors increased, while the intensities of astringency, bitterness, and umami showed no clear trend. With increasing semi-fermentation time, the concentrations of gallated catechins, myricetin-rhamnose, quercetin-rutinoside, myricetin, and theanine greatly decreased, while those of total theaflavins, vitexin-rhamnose, kaempferol-galactose, kaempferol-rutinoside, vitexin, quercetin, and kaempferol increased significantly. The intensity of bitter taste was positively correlated with the concentrations of total catechins and gallated catechins. The intensity of astringent taste strongly correlated with the flavonoid concentrations, and that of sweet aftertaste positively correlated with the concentrations of (−)-epigallocatechin and (−)-epicatechin. However, dose-over-threshold analysis revealed that catechins, theaflavin, flavonol glycosides, and caffeine are the main taste-active compounds contributing to the taste of Tieguanyin oolong tea. The concentrations of total volatiles and most of the esters increased markedly with the semi-fermentation time, while the concentrations of low aldehydes showed a significant decrease. The flavor index was consistent with the intensity of floral aroma, increasing from 0.59 (12 h) to 0.84 (24 h) and then decreasing to 0.63 (32 h). Results of this work suggest that the flavor change is mainly due to the variation of taste-active and aroma-active compounds in oolong tea.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101248, 31671861), Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang (LR17C160001), and the Innovation Project for Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-ASTIP-2014-TRICAAS) and the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program by CAST.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou, 310008, China

    Pan-Pan Liu, Jun-Feng Yin, Gen-Sheng Chen, Fang Wang & Yong-Quan Xu

  2. Institute of Fruit and Tea, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Science, Wuhan, 430064, China

    Pan-Pan Liu

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  1. Pan-Pan Liu
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  2. Jun-Feng Yin
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  3. Gen-Sheng Chen
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  4. Fang Wang
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Correspondence to Yong-Quan Xu.

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Liu, PP., Yin, JF., Chen, GS. et al. Flavor characteristics and chemical compositions of oolong tea processed using different semi-fermentation times. J Food Sci Technol 55, 1185–1195 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-018-3034-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-018-3034-0

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