Evaluation of Volatile Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Fermented Green Tea Infusion with Pleurotus sajor-caju (Oyster Mushroom)

Summary

This research explored how fermenting green tea with oyster mushroom can improve its taste and aroma. The process successfully reduced the bitter and grassy flavors while enhancing pleasant floral and fruity notes. Though some antioxidant properties decreased, the tea maintained healthy benefits while becoming more enjoyable to drink. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides a natural way to make green tea taste better without artificial additives – Creates new options for people who want health benefits of green tea but dislike its bitter taste – Demonstrates potential for developing new tea products with enhanced flavors – Shows how traditional foods can be improved through natural fermentation processes – Offers insights into making healthy beverages more palatable for general consumers

Background

Green tea typically has distinct astringency, bitter taste, and green flavor due to its post-harvest treatment without withering and enzymatic oxidation. Microbial fermentation has emerged as a promising strategy to improve tea flavor through metabolic transformation by microorganisms.

Objective

To investigate the effects of fermentation with edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju on the volatile profile and antioxidant activity of green tea infusion, aiming to improve its flavor and taste quality.

Results

The fermentation process significantly decreased (Z)-2-penten-1-ol and methyl heptadienone content, reducing herbal and grass flavors. Linalool and geraniol contents increased 9.3 and 11.3 times respectively, while methyl salicylate was newly produced, enhancing floral and fruit aromas. Most polyphenols decreased significantly after fermentation, reducing astringency and bitterness. While overall antioxidant activity decreased, ABTS-free radical scavenging ability improved compared to unfermented tea.

Conclusion

P. sajor-caju fermentation successfully manipulated green tea flavor by reducing herbal/grass notes while enhancing floral and fruit aromas. Though antioxidant activity generally decreased, the process maintained significant beneficial properties while improving taste and aroma profiles. This innovative approach shows promising potential for enhancing green tea flavor characteristics.
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