Abstract: The main characteristic components in tea are the tea polyphenols; flavonoids derivatives and caffeine. The basic tea polyphenols are secondary metabolites among the flavonoids group of compounds that accumulate in high concentration in the young tender leaves of tea. The catechins share the major part of the biosynthetic pathway with other derivative flavonoids products, hence similar synthesis mechanisms. The widely studied pathway in several plant species is tightly controlled by a series of structural and regulatory genes determining the main products of the pathway. Understanding the biochemical, molecular and genetic control of tea polyphenols synthesis pathway is necessary in order to derive maximum value from the tea genetic improvement process. The pathway and critical genes in the flavonoids synthesis leading to the synthesis of tea catechins are discussed. Potential value for knowledge of the pathway in tea and its application is enumerated.

Key words: Camellia sinensis, Tea catechins, Gene expression, Biosynthesis