Effects of Exogenous Enzymatic Treatment During Processing on the Sensory Quality of Summer Tieguanyin Oolong Tea from the Chinese Anxi County

摘要

In order to att enuate the bitt er taste and improve the aroma of the summer tieguanyin oolong tea from the Chinese Anxi county, the eff ects of processing treatment with exogenous laccase and α-galactosidase on tea sensory quality and related compounds were investigated. The solutio ns of laccase and/or α-galactosidase were sprayed on the tea leaves before the fi rst drying process. The sensory evaluation results showed that the sensory quality of the tea was signifi cantly enhanced with the enzymatic treatment. The combined application of laccase a t 8.25 and α- galactosidase at 22 U per kg of fresh tea shoots achieved the most satisfying sensory quality. Further analysis of fl avour-related constituents was carried out by HPLC and GC-MS. The HPLC analysis showed that the contents of catechins and total polyphen ols were reduced, compared to the untreated group, by 11.9 and 13.3 % respectively, and the total soluble sugars and water extract content were increased by 19.4 and 6.6 % respectively, aft er the treatment with both enzymes. The decrease of catechins and total polyphenols reduced the bitt erness and astringency of the summer tea, while the increase of total soluble sugars and water extract content improved the sweetness and mellow taste. The aromatic compound data from GC-MS showed that the total essential oil content in these tea samples co-treated with laccase and α-galactos idase increased significantly, in which aldehydes, alcohols, esters and alkenes increased by 23.28, 37.05, 20.10 and 38.99 %, respectively. Our data suggest that the exogenous enzymatic treatment can enhance the summer oolong tea quality, especially its taste and aroma.