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Journal of Tea Science ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 604-614.doi: 10.13305/j.cnki.jts.20250312.001

• Research Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on Distribution of α-Dicarbonyl in Different Teas

CHEN Wenxue1, ZHU Li1, LIU Yueyun2, JIANG Yongwen1,*, ZHU Hongkai1,*   

  1. 1. Tea Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China;
    2. Yibin Research Institute of Tea Industry, Yibin 644002, China
  • Received:2024-12-17 Revised:2025-02-20 Online:2025-08-15 Published:2025-08-15

Abstract: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the contents and composition of 10 α-dicarbonyl compounds in tea by detecting stable quinoxaline derivatives formed by reactions between α-dicarbonyl compounds and o-phenylenediamine. The results demonstrate that 3-deoxyglucosone was the predominant dicarbonyl compound in all six major tea categories. The high-temperature de-enzyming process was identified as the primary driver for the formation of short-chain α-dicarbonyl compounds in green tea, yellow tea and oolong tea. While relatively lower drying temperatures significantly influenced the formation of long-chain α-dicarbonyl compounds in white tea and dark tea. The total contents of α-dicarbonyl compounds in green tea, yellow tea, black tea and oolong tea exhibited an increasing trend with the oxidation degree of catechins. Additionally, the absence of rolling during white tea processing and microbial activity during the pile-fermentation process of dark tea were critical factors for the accumulation of α-dicarbonyl compounds.

Key words: quinoxaline, catechin, 3-deoxyglucosone, Maillard reaction, methylglyoxal

CLC Number: