15 October 2026, Volume 46 Issue 5

    

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Review
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  Research Progress on the Antagonistic Effects of Tea Polyphenols Against Human Oxidative Stress Induced by Environmental Pollutants

  QIAN Yiyue, ZHANG Xiangchun, CHEN Hongping, FU Zhouping, YU Jizhong, ZHENG Qinqin

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 761-774. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.003

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  Environmental pollutants are important exogenous factors inducing oxidative stress in humans. Fine particulate matter, heavy metals and other pollutants enter the human body and trigger oxidative stress by inducing excessive generation of reactive oxygen species. This impairs mitochondrial function and activates inflammatory signaling pathways, which subsequently contribute to the development of various chronic diseases. Tea polyphenols, as the primary antioxidant components in tea, can directly scavenge free radicals, activate the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, inhibit pro-oxidant enzyme activity, protect mitochondria and block the inflammation-oxidative stress vicious cycle, thereby alleviating oxidative damage. This paper reviewed the classification of common environmental pollutants and the mechanisms by which they induce oxidative stress in humans, systematically analyzed the pathways through which tea polyphenols mitigate oxidative stress and their protective effects at the cellular, organ and systemic levels, and elucidated the application value of tea consumption and tea polyphenol-related products in counteracting health risks associated with environmental pollution.
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  Fabrication and Application Progress of Polyphenol-based Sensing Materials for Wearable Devices

  ZHANG Chengcen, WAN Wenqi, GU Jinbo, DING Wen

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 775-789. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.010

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  Polyphenols possess abundant active structures that can form a stable network with matrix materials through multiple molecular interactions, making them suitable for the preparation of multifunctional composite materials with properties such as adhesion, self-healing, antibacterial, antioxidant, chromogenic response, and conductive sensing. In this work, the effects of polyphenol structures on material performances were reviewed. Dominant fabrication strategies including blending, electrospinning and layer-by-layer self-assembly for wearable polyphenol-based sensing materials, together with their technical characteristics, were summarized. Research advances of the as-prepared sensing materials in human motion monitoring and wound healing surveillance were also concluded. It was pointed out that continuous film-forming, multimodal signal integration, intelligent recognition and low-cost green manufacturing technologies were regarded as key research directions in future studies. Industrial applications of wearable polyphenol-based sensing materials were further promoted through the exploration of the above technologies.
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  Preparation and Application Progress of Tea Polyphenol Composite Films

  MIN Yue, YANG Chen, LIN Yanping, CHENG Bei

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 790-806. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.013

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  Tea polyphenols are rich in phenolic hydroxyl groups, and possess excellent antioxidant and antibacterial activities, making them suitable for use as natural active additives in the fabrication of biodegradable composite films. In this paper, the physicochemical properties of tea polyphenols, mainstream preparation techniques of composite films (solution casting, electrospinning, layer-by-layer self-assembly, etc.) and their application advances in fruit preservation as well as the storage of meat and aquatic products were reviewed. It was demonstrated that the lipid oxidation and protein deterioration of fresh foods could be effectively inhibited by tea polyphenol composite films, and the shelf life was markedly prolonged. However, several drawbacks were found in such films: uneven release of active components, easy structural failure under high humidity, weak interlayer bonding force and relatively high preparation cost. It was suggested that future studies could integrate arti ficial intelligence calculation, molecular simulation and machine learning and that a formula database of tea polyphenol composite films could be created to enable targeted and precise design of the films and promote iterative upgrading of packaging materials for fresh food preservation.
Research Paper
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  Genome-wide Identification and Stress Response Analysis of the WAT1 Gene Family in Camellia sinensis

  HE An, CAO Mengfei, ZHOU Jin, WANG Yuchun, ZHANG Kexin, CHEN Yanan

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 807-820. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.002

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  Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) are one of the important economic crops in China. The growth, development, yield and quality of tea plants are severely threatened by fungal diseases such as anthracnose. Plant disease resistance involves complex hormone signaling regulatory networks and the coordinated action of various transmembrane transport proteins. The WAT1 (Walls are thin 1) gene family encodes plant-specific membrane transport proteins that play important roles in auxin transport, secondary cell wall formation and stress responses. In this study, using tea plant genome data, we performed a genome-wide identification of the WAT1 gene family in Camellia sinensis (CsWAT1) and systematically analyzed the physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, promoter cis-acting element composition, and tissue expression profiles of the encoded proteins. A total of 41 CsWAT1 gene members were identified in the tea genome, with molecular weights ranging from 15.21 kDa to 48.15 kDa, and all proteins were predicted to contain multiple transmembrane helices. Subcellular localization prediction reveals that 32 CsWAT1 proteins are localized to the plasma membrane and 9 to the vacuolar membrane, with almost all members displaying basic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the CsWAT1 family can be divided into 8 subgroups, and extensive syntenic relationships were identified between CsWAT1 members and those of Arabidopsis thaliana. Promoter cis-element analysis reveals that the promoter regions of CsWAT1 genes are enriched for elements related to light response, phytohormone response, and abiotic and biotic stress responses. Tissue expression analysis shows that CsWAT1 family members exhibit distinct expression patterns across different organs. Further RT-qPCR analysis reveals that CsWAT1-11 was significantly induced under both Colletotrichum camelliae infection and methyl jasminate (MJ) treatment. This study represents the first systematic identification and analysis of the CsWAT1 gene family in tea plants, encompassing member characteristics, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles. These findings reveal the potential roles of certain CsWAT1 genes in pathogen responses and provide candidate genes and a theoretical basis for further elucidating the functions of CsWAT1 in tea plant responses to anthracnose.
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  Growth Phenotypes and Comprehensive Evaluation of 46 Tea Cultivars in Northern Guizhou

  SUN Heng, YAO Hongjie, CHEN Yongkang, ZHANG Sha, GAO Manman

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 821-830. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.007

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  To comprehensively evaluate the growth performance of different tea cultivars in northern Guizhou and to screen for elite cultivars adapted to the local ecological environment, 13 growth phenotypic and quality indicators were measured using 46 tea cultivars as test materials. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the coefficient of variation, Shannon diversity index (H′), correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that: ① There were highly significant differences (P<0.01) in the 13 indicators, with coefficients of variation ranging from 5.74% to 53.74%. Branch height (53.74%) and the phenol-to-amine ratio (30.68%) exhibited the greatest variation. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.72 to 2.04, indicating high genetic diversity. ② Free amino acid content was significantly negatively correlated with phenol-ammonia ratio and tea polyphenol content (P<0.001). 100-bud weight was significantly positively correlated with ground diameter, crown width, and leaf area (P<0.001), but significantly negatively correlated with germination density (P<0.001). ③ Six principal components were extracted by principal component analysis, with a cumulative contribution rate of 86.630%. The top five cultivars ranked by their comprehensive score were ‘Qianmei 601' ‘Zhongcha 108' ‘Yunkang 10' ‘Xueya 100', and ‘Zijuan'. ④ Cluster analysis divided the 46 cultivars into four groups, among which Group Ⅱ ‘Qianmei 601' ‘Zhongcha 108' ‘Yunkang 10' ‘Zijuan', and ‘Yujinxiang' exhibited strong growth vigor and high polyphenol content (18.41%). In conclusion, five cultivars including ‘Qianmei 601' demonstrated superior comprehensive traits and can be used as preferred materials for cultivar improvement and specialized product development in northern Guizhou.
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  Physiological Effects and Transcriptome Analysis of Different Concentrations of Indolebutyric Acid·S-Abscisic Acid on Tea Leaves Under Natural Low Temperature

  LIANG Li, XIAO Huangqiao, SHI Yuling, LI Zhang, LÜ Xueying, JIE Yucheng

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 831-842. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.001

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  Regulating the cold resistance of tea plants is of great significance to the overwintering cultivation, stable yield and quality improvement of the tea industry. To explore the effect of plant growth regulators on the low temperature tolerance in tea plants, a tea cultivar ‘Baojing Huangjincha 1' was used as the experimental material in this study. Under the condition of natural low temperature, the leaves were sprayed with indole butyric acid·S-abscisic acid compound at concentration of 1 000 times (active ingredient 0.01 mg·L^-1, C1), 500 times (active ingredient 0.02 mg·L^-1, C2) and 250 times dilution (active ingredient 0.04 mg·L^-1, C3), with water sprayed onto the leaves as the control. The agronomic traits, photosynthetic parameters, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), main quality components (tea polyphenols and free amino acids) and stress-resistant physiological indexes (peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde content) of tea plants were systematically determined to comprehensively evaluate the physiological regulation effect of the compound on the cold tolerance of tea plants. RNA-seq analysis was further used for exploring its mechanism at a molecular level. The results show that spraying the compound agent improved leaf growth (length, width and thickness), significantly improved photosynthetic performance such as net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance (P<0.05), increased SPAD value, tea polyphenol and free amino acid contents, significantly enhanced POD activity and reduced MDA accumulation (P<0.05), and effectively alleviated membrane lipid peroxidation damage caused by low temperature. Principal component analysis shows that the best treatment was C2 (active ingredient 0.02 mg·L^-1). Transcriptome analysis shows that there were 1 150 differentially expressed genes in the C2 treatment compared with the control, of which 674 were up-regulated and 476 were down-regulated. KEGG enrichment analysis shows that the differential genes were mainly enriched in monoterpene biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, zeatin synthesis, carbon metabolism, riboflavin metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This study reveals the mechanism of indolebutyric acid·S-abscisic acid to enhance the low temperature adaptability of tea plants by synergistically regulating photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant system and secondary metabolic network at physiological and molecular levels, which provided a theoretical basis for the cultivation and management of cold-resistant tea plants and the breeding of cold-resistant cultivars.
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  Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Differences Between Triploid and Diploid Tea Plants in Photosynthesis and Flavonoid Metabolism

  SHANG Xuechun, JIANG Huixin, LIU Shuying, HE Yuanyuan, WANG Yu

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 843-856. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.005

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  Polyploidization in plants promotes the development of excellent agronomic traits and breaks the limitations of traditional breeding methods, However, research on tea plant polyploids remains scarce at present. In this study, six diploid and six triploid tea cultivars were used as experimental materials. Ploidy identification was conducted via flow cytometry and chromosome counting, and ploidy-related differences were analyzed by combining transcriptome sequencing with the determination of physiological indices. The results show that the contents of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll in triploid tea plants were significantly higher than those in diploid ones, with superior photosynthetic parameters such as net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate, leading to a remarkable enhancement in photosynthetic capacity. Additionally, the accumulation of flavonoid metabolites including tea polyphenols and total catechins was significantly increased in triploid tea plants. Transcriptome analysis reveals that compared with the diploid tea cultivars ‘Fuding Dabaicha', the differentially expressed genes of the six triploid varieties were enriched in pathways such as photosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis, and nine core differentially expressed genes were screened out. Among them, photosynthesis-related genes were mostly up-regulated, while flavonoid synthesis-related genes were all down-regulated. This study provids a theoretical foundation and experimental basis for the identification and evaluation of polyploid tea germplasm resources as well as cultivar breeding.
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  Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms of Pre-Winter Watering Treatment Enhancing Cold Tolerance in Camellia sinensis

  WANG Mengqi, SONG Dapeng, YIN Hongxu, ZHOU Chao, SHEN Jiazhi, QIAN Wenjun, CHEN Zhenzhen, FANG Fengxiang, SUN Xia, DING Shibo

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 857-872. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.008

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  To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which pre-winter watering enhances cold resistance in tea plants, this study investigated the physiological and transcriptomic responses of Camellia sinensis cv. ‘Lucha 1' under simulated low-temperature stress. Plants were subjected to pre-watering (W) and control (C, no watering) treatments prior to exposure to overwintering conditions in a climate chamber. The results showed that the POD activity was significantly higher in the W group compared to the C group at﹣7 ℃/24 h (199.90 U∙mL^-1 and 142.58 U∙mL^-1) (P<0.05), as was SOD activity at ﹣7 ℃/36 h (107.29 U∙mL^-1 and 84.29 U∙mL^-1). No significant difference was observed in CAT activity. The W group consistently maintained significantly higher soluble sugar contents at ﹣7 ℃/12 h, ﹣7 ℃/24 h and ﹣7 ℃/36 h. Its soluble protein content was also significantly elevated at ﹣7 ℃/24 h, ﹣7 ℃/36 h, and during the recovery phase. Consequently, at ﹣7 ℃/36 h, the content of MDA was significantly lower in the W group (4.30 nmol∙mL^-1) than in the C group (5.98 nmol∙mL^-1). Transcriptome analysis reveals that pre-watering amplified the transcriptomic response to low-temperature stress, with a significantly higher number of DEGs in group W (435) than in group C (184). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEGs in group W were predominantly enriched in energy metabolism-related pathways, such as proton transport and ATP synthesis, whereas genes associated with the photosynthesis-antenna proteins pathway were specifically down-regulated. In contrast, DEGs in group C were mainly enriched in pathways related to secondary metabolism and antioxidant processes, including flavonoid biosynthesis and oxidoreductase activity.
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  The Molecular Mechanism of CsCYP75B1 in Response to Low-temperature Stress and Its Regulation of Flavonol Metabolism in Tea Plants

  WANG Xiaodong, LI Zijun, WANG Yi, SUN Ping, HAN Xiaoyang, FAN Yangen, HUANG Xiaoqin

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 873-890. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.009

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  Tea plant is an important economic crop in China, and its growth is easily affected by temperature. Low-temperature stress severely limits its yield and quality. Flavonols, as secondary metabolites of plants, have been proven to be involved in abiotic stress responses. The metabolism of flavonols is regulated by a network of multiple genes. Our research team previously screened transcriptome sequencing data and identified a significantly differentially expressed gene, CsCYP75B1 (CSS0048905), in the flavonol biosynthesis pathway under low temperature. CsCYP75B1 belongs to the cytochrome P450 family and encodes a F3'H enzyme, which is a key enzyme in the flavonoid biosynthesis. The function of CsCYP75B1 in tea plant response to low temperature is unclear. To explore the molecular mechanism of CsCYP75B1 in regulating flavonol metabolism in tea plants under low temperature, this experiment analyzed the cloned CsCYP75B1 using bioinformatics methods and verified its function through heterologous transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana and transient silencing experiments in tea plants. The results show that the promoter region of the CsCYP75B1 gene contains a low temperature response element (LTR), and the expression of CsCYP75B1 was upregulated under low temperature, thereby promoting flavonol accumulation. Overexpressing CsCYP75B1 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly enhanced plant cold tolerance, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced membrane lipid peroxidation, and positively regulated the expression of key genes in the ICE-CBF-COR pathway. Transient silencing of the CsCYP75B1 gene in tea plants resulted in reduced flavonol synthesis in leaves and decreased antioxidant capacity. This study reveals the molecular mechanism by which the CsCYP75B1 gene in tea plants positively regulates flavonol synthesis and the low temperature signaling pathway under low-temperature stress, thereby enhancing their cold tolerance. It provided candidate genes for breeding stress-resistant tea cultivars and relevant evidence for the formation of stress-resistant quality in tea plants.
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  Influence of Foliar Spraying of High-dose Selenium Fertilizer on Flavor Components in Tea Plants

  GAO Caixia, ZHONG Wanjing, JIANG Huimin, PENG Jiakun, ZENG Jianming, ZHOU Jie, WANG Weidong, DAI Weidong

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 891-903. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.006

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  To investigate the effects of a high-concentration selenium (Se) fertilizer on Se accumulation and metabolite profiles in the tea cultivar ‘Longjing 43', sodium selenite was foliar-applied at a rate of 75 mg·m^-2 in autumn. Non-targeted metabolomics was employed to analyze changes in quality-related metabolites in fresh leaves harvested at different time points after Se application. The results showed that Se application significantly increased the Se content in fresh leaves, reaching a maximum of 39.7 mg·kg^-1 on day 8, followed by a gradual decline to 16.1 mg·kg^-1 by day 27. Metabolomics analysis reveals that the levels of most dimeric catechins (increased by 11%-21%), flavanols (increased by 1%-5%), and alkaloids (increased by 2%-17%) were elevated, whereas the contents of organic acids (decreased by 1%-17%) flavonols and their glycosides (decreased by 3%-4%) and lipids (decreased by 19%-33%) were reduced under Se treatment. Notably, in contrast to previous reports that moderate Se application enhances amino acid content and improves tea flavor quality, the present study observed a significant decrease in most amino acids on day 8 after high-concentration Se application, followed by a gradual recovery on days 13, 20, and 27. KEGG enrichment analysis indicates significant activation of glutathione and sulfur-containing amino acid metabolic pathways. On day 8 after selenium fertilizer application, the contents of glutathione and ascorbic acid in tea leaves decreased, and subsequently, glutathione content gradually recovered as Se levels declined in the later stage. Sensory evaluation of black tea reveals a slight deterioration in the overall flavor quality under excessive Se treatment. Collectively, this metabolomics-based study elucidates the dynamic effects of excessive Se application on tea chemical composition, providing valuable insights for the optimized production of Se-enriched tea with improved quality.
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  Effects of Processing with Different Tea Infusions on the Phenolic Compounds of Zhuang Medicine Tylophora ovata

  YUAN Yijie, LI Jiemei, XIE Feng

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 904-914. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.20260818.001

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  To investigate the effects of processing with different types of tea infusions on the phenolic components in herbal medicines, this study utilized the Zhuang medicine Tylophora ovata as a model to evaluate the content variations of its characteristic constituents, p-hydroxyacetophenone and paeonol, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed for quantitative analysis. Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy combined with molecular docking was utilized to exclude detection interference from the physical complexation of alkaloids, specifically caffeine and tylophorine. Furthermore, a simulated processing system was established to evaluate the impact of tea polyphenols on the retention rates of these phenolic compounds. Quantitative results indicate that, compared with the raw sample group, the content of p-hydroxyacetophenone significantly increased in the green tea-, white tea-, and dark tea-processed groups, but significantly decreased in the black tea- and yellow tea-processed groups. Meanwhile, paeonol levels declined across all tea infusion-processed groups, with reduction rates ranging from 4.0% to 11.4%. Mechanistic studies confirm that the binding affinities between the two phenolic compounds and the primary alkaloids were exceedingly weak, ensuring their physicochemical independence. The universal depletion of paeonol was primarily governed by high-temperature physical volatilization, upon which tea polyphenols exerted limited influence. In contrast, the variation in p-hydroxyacetophenone content was dictated by a dynamic competition between “thermal dissolution-induced release” and “oxidative degradation-induced consumption”, wherein tea polyphenols provided substantial antioxidant protection. This study clarified the chemical mechanisms by which different tea infusions modulate the retention of phenolic compounds, providing a scientific basis for the rational selection of specific tea types as processing excipients for toxic ethnomedicines.
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  Study on the Effect of Dynamic Temperature-Controlled Fermentation on the Quality of Sichuan Congou Black Tea

  XU Fan, XIA Xiaojiao, LI Jingjing, CAO Yuxi, LI Hengbiao, LIN Ling, XU Wei

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 915-928. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.011

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  Using one bud and one or two leaves of ‘Fuding Dabaicha' as raw materials, this study compared the effects of room temperature natural fermentation and dynamic temperature-controlled fermentation on the quality of summer Sichuan Congou black tea. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using sensory evaluation, routine physicochemical analysis, UPLC-MS/MS non-targeted metabolomics and HS-SPME-GC-MS volatile metabolomics. Sensory evaluation results indicate that the variable temperature group (KW group) exhibited better sensory quality than the room temperature group (SW group), characterized by a more mellow and fresh taste, a distinct sweet aroma, and longer aroma persistence. Physicochemical analysis indicates that compared with the SW group, the KW group had increased contents of water extract, soluble sugars, theaflavins, and thearubigins, while the contents of caffeine, total catechins, and theabrownins were decreased. A total of 1 950 metabolites were identified using UPLC-MS/MS, among which 170 differential metabolites were screened (44 upregulated and 126 downregulated). KEGG enrichment analysis reveals that pathways such as phosphatidylinositol signaling system, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and anthocyanin biosynthesis were significantly enriched, suggesting that dynamic temperature-controlled fermentation may affect the taste and color quality of tea infusion by regulating these pathways. A total of 938 volatile metabolites were identified using HS-SPME-GC-MS, and the total amount of volatile compounds in the KW group was higher than that in the SW group. Relative odor activity value (rOAV) analysis identifies 169 key aroma compounds in the two tea samples. Compounds representing fruity and fresh aroma attributes, such as 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, (E)-4-nonenal, (E)-2-hexenal, and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, were higher in the KW group than in the SW group. In conclusion, Sichuan Congou black tea processed by dynamic temperature-controlled fermentation exhibited better quality than that processed by room temperature natural fermentation. These findings provided a theoretical basis for improving the quality of summer Sichuan Congou black tea and for the high-value utilization of summer fresh tea leaves.
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  Effect of Assembly Line Reform on Flavor and Physicochemical Quality of Songyang Fragrant Tea

  CHENG Yanjun, LIANG Yueer, LI Peiyu, YE Huoxiang, MAO Xiaojun, YE Yanping, HAN Shanjie, HAN Baoyu

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 929-944. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.012

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  To enhance the typical quality characteristics of Songyang fragrant tea, namely green color, high aroma intensity and strong taste, this study carried out equipment upgrading and process optimization on a conventional continuous production line, and systematically analyzed the changes in flavor and functional components of the fragrant tea before and after the reform. Colorimeter, electronic nose, electronic tongue, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and other analytical instruments were employed to comprehensively determine and analyze color, aroma, taste and main quality components of the tea samples. The results showed that: (1) In terms of color and appearance, the dry tea after reform had tighter and greener strips, the tea infusion showed reduced yellow tone and became clearer, and the sensory scores of appearance and liquor color both improved. (2) In terms of aroma, the volatile components before reform were dominated by alcohols, esters and ketones, while those after reform were dominated by acids, alcohols and esters. The number of volatile components increased from 17 to 34, with a significant increase in total relative content. Floral and fruity compounds such as linalool and trans-β-ionone increased markedly, and the clean aroma became more persistent. (3) In terms of taste, the contents of bitter and astringent compounds such as tea polyphenols and esterified catechins decreased, whereas the contents of umami and sweet components such as amino acids and soluble sugars increased after reform. The ratio of esterified to non-esterified catechins decreased from 2.573 to 1.431. Electronic tongue analysis showed an increased umami response and decreased bitterness and astringency responses. The taste shifted from bitterness-dominant to a fresh, mellow and balanced profile, and the sensory taste score improved. These findings confirmed that this reform not only improved production efficiency and continuity, but also significantly enhanced the overall quality of Songyang fragrant tea.
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  Tea Enterprises Cross-Border E-Commerce Business Resilience Assessment and Tea Area Difference Analysis

  HONG Qingyu, PAN Changjian, PENG Kang, LIN Mengxing, CHEN Fuqiao, JIANG Renhua

  Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(5): 945-958. https://doi.org/10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.05.004

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  Based on operational data from 155 tea enterprises on the Alibaba International Station, this study constructed an evaluation system for the operational resilience of tea enterprises engaged in cross-border e-commerce, consisting of operational foundation, risk resistance capacity and recovery capacity. The entropy weight method was employed to measure resilience levels, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine differences across tea regions. The results show that: (1) There was significant heterogeneity in the operational resilience of tea enterprises engaged in cross-border e-commerce. The comprehensive score of operational foundation score was considerably higher than the risk resistance capacity and recovery capacity scores, whereas the resilience structure remained unbalanced. (2) Risk resistance capacity was the primary weakness of current operational resilience. Most enterprises suffered from undiversified product portfolios, insufficient reserves of high-quality products, and excessive dependence on a limited number of core products. (3) No significant regional differences were observed in either operational foundation or risk resistance capacity, indicating that differences in cross-border e-commerce operational capability among enterprises are the primary source of resilience variation. (4) Recovery capacity has begun to exhibit regional divergence. Tea enterprises in the Jiangbei and South China tea regions performed relatively better in acquiring high-quality traffic and recovering from market fluctuations, suggesting that dynamic market responsiveness is becoming an increasingly important source of differences in operational resilience. Based on these findings, future efforts should focus on strengthening digital operational capabilities, optimizing product portfolios, enhancing traffic management and market responsiveness, and improving the public service system for cross-border e-commerce to continuously enhance the operational resilience of tea enterprises.