Journal of Tea Science

Effects of Intercropping on the Ecological Environment and Economic Benefits of Tea Gardens

ZHANG Jie, HU Qiang, HONG Qingyu, JIANG Xinfeng, WU Weizhen, XU Hao, ZHAN Jie, FU Jianyu, LI Xin, YAN Peng, YU Jizhong, HUANG Weihong

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 191-206. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.011

Abstract ( 36 )

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As a traditional agricultural planting model, intercropping in tea gardens introduces other plant species into the tea garden ecosystem to construct a complex tea garden ecosystem. It has various positive effects on improving the species diversity and stability of the tea garden ecosystem, as well as increasing the yield and quality of tea. To systematically evaluate the comprehensive impact of intercropping on the tea garden ecosystem, this paper integrated relevant research in recent years. Firstly, the types and main functions of intercropping in tea gardens were classified and analyzed. Secondly, the focus is on analyzing the impacts of intercropping on multiple dimensions such as micro-climate, soil environment, growth and metabolism of tea plants, regulation of diseases, pests and weeds, and carbon sequestration and emission reduction in tea gardens, in order to clarify the suitable intercropping types and specific regulatory mechanisms. Through this study, the mechanism and effects of intercropping in tea gardens on tea production were systematically elucidated, with the aim to provide a theoretical basis for the construction of high-quality and high-yield tea gardens and the green and sustainable development of the tea industry, and to offer ideas and references for future research directions.

Cutting Propagation Technology and Transcription Characteristics Analysis of Adventitious Roots for ‘Wanghaicha 1’

JIANG Yanhua, HE Mengdi, HU Tong, HAN Zhen, CHEN Yingnan, WU Liyun, WEI Kang, WANG Liyuan

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 207-220. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.003

Abstract ( 22 )

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‘Wanghaicha 1’ is a newly bred green tea cultivar origining from the local population in Ninghai county. To establish an efficient breeding system, a comparative cutting experiment of long and short branch cuttings in lightweight non-woven seedling bags, and a short branch field mulching cutting experiment were set up at the Shengzhou base. The results show that the rooting rate of short branch cuttings of this cultivar was higher than that of the control ‘Longjing 43’, with better growth and greater tolerance to high temperatures and drought. Moreover, the long branch cuttings can reach the nursery standard after 77 days. The method of short branch cuttings covered with black non-woven fabric film on the seedbed can effectively reduce the frequency of manual weeding. And through Illumina HiSeq platform, transcriptome sequencing of the root system of ‘Wanghaicha1’ was performed. Compared with the control ‘Longjing 43’, 107 differentially expressed genes related to plant hormones were screened. It is speculated that the synergistic regulation of these genes may be the molecular basis for the developed root system of this culitvar. This study preliminarily obtained 107 differentially expressed genes related to plant hormones in the adventitious roots of ‘Wanghaicha1’. The established cutting mode of ‘early emergence of long branch from the nursery application of black plastic film to improve quality and efficiency’ can shorten the seedling period by 15.4% and reduce weed control costs by 85.7%, providing theoretical basis and technical support for the industrial promotion of new cultivar.

Analysis of Mitochondrial Genome Characteristics and Codon Usage Bias in Camellia sinensis cv. ‘Zhuyeqi’

CHEN Zhiyin, ZENG Wenjuan, YANG Pan, WEN Cong, JIANG Rui, ZHONG Qianyi, JING Yuanrong, ZHU Zanjiang

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 221-237. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.005

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This study utilized Camellia sinensis cv. ‘Zhuyeqi’ as the research material and employed a combined strategy of Illumina ( the second-generation sequencing) and Oxford Nanopore (the third-generation sequencing) to systematically analyze and achieve a high-quality assembly of its mitochondrial genome. Furthermore, through gene annotation, codon usage bias analysis and phylogenetic analysis, this study aimed to elucidate the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary characteristics of Camellia sinensis cv. ‘Zhuyeqi’. The results indicate that the mitochondrial genome consists of seven fragments, including “one circular and six linear” structures, with a total length of 911 255 bp and a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 45.7%. Among these fragments, fragment 1 is circular (311 104 bp), while the remaining fragments are linear. A total of 77 functional genes were annotated, including 38 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 33 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 3 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 3 pseudogenes. Additionally, 269 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, with tetranucleotide repeats being the most abundant type (43.49%). Mononucleotide repeats were primarily composed of adenine (A)/thymine (T) (91.18%). A total of 780 long repeat sequences were identified, comprising 354 forward repeats and 426 palindromic repeats. The analysis of nonsynonymous substitutions (Ka) and synonymous substitutions (Ks) indicates that the ccmB、rps10 and mttB genes are under significant and positive selection (Ka/Ks>1), suggesting their crucial roles in adaptive evolution to environmental conditions. Codon usage bias analysis reveals that the GC content of the third codon position (GC₃, 37.36%) in 29 PCGs was significantly lower than that of the first (GC₁, 47.81%) and second (GC₂, 43.01%) codon positions. The mean effective number of codons (ENC) is 51.98, indicating weak codon usage bias. Regression analysis of GC₁₂ and GC₃ (R² = 0.004 5) reveals that natural selection contributed 88.45%, significantly outweighing mutational pressure. Base preference shows C₃>G₃ and T₃>A₃, with optimal codons predominantly ending in uracil (U)/adenine (A) (60.87%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that C. sinensis cv. ‘Zhuyeqi’ forms a monophyletic group with core species of the genus Camellia, supporting its taxonomic status. This study provided critical insights into the evolutionary mechanisms of the mitochondrial genome and the adaptive functions of genes in tea plants.

Comparative Study on Resistance Mechanism of Three Etiolated Tea Cultivars Against Empoasca onukii

XIA Luxia, HAN Shanjie, HAN Baoyu, WANG Mengxin

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 238-254. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.002

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In the past years, the growing area of etiolated tea cultivars has continued to expand, and at the same time, diseases and pests damage have gradually emerged on the cultivars. To explore the resistance mechanism of etiolated tea cultivars against the Empoasca onukii, an important pest, three etiolated local tea cultivars, ‘Huanglongjin’, ‘Huangjinya’ and ‘Dahuangpao’, widely planted in the southwestern Zhejiang Province were selected, with ‘Longjing 43’ as the control. The feeding behavior on these tea cultivars was monitored and compared using the electrical penetration graphy technique, and their resistance was evaluated. Additionally, the differences in volatiles and non-volatile substances among the three etiolated tea cultivars were analyzed and compared between healthy status and 24 hours after leafhopper injury. The feeding behavior analysis indicates that the resistance varied from strong to weak, with ‘Huanglongjin’, ‘Longjing 43’, ‘Huangjinya’ and ‘Dahuangpao’ identified as the most and least resistant cultivars, respectively. Volatiles from tea shoots injured by E. onukii revealed the presence of six components, including α-farnesene, β-ocimene, and 2-methyl-6-methylene-1, 7-octanediene-3-one, detected in all three etiolated tea cultivars pierced and sucked by the leafhopper. The contents of these compounds were found to be highest in ‘Huanglongjin’. Sixteen main differential compounds were screened out from the non-volatile substances of tea plants after leafhopper-injured by using the orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis model. Among them, the contents of threonine, epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were significantly and negatively correlated with the duration of the E wave. In contrast, a significant positive correlation was observed between the contents of quercetin, serine, tyrosine, leucine, proline, and the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and the duration of the E wave. In addition, the contents of both ECG and EGCG in three etiolated tea cultivars following injury by the tea leafhopper were found to be significantly elevated (P<0.05), with the highest levels observed in ‘Huanglongjin’. In conclusion, injury by E. onukii can induce changes in both volatile and non-volatile substances in tea leaves, thereby conferring resistance against leafhoppers. And differences in resistance were observed among three etiolated tea cultivars with ‘Huanglongjin’ showing the strongest resistance.

Transcriptome Analysis of Nitrogen-Deficient Tea Plants Under Dark Treatment and Identification of the CsHY5 Gene

WANG Yongxin, MAO Zhuozhuo, WEI Kang, WANG Liyuan, LU Wenyuan, YU Jizhong

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 255-263. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.014

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Light and nitrogen are crucial factors regulating plant energy metabolism, carbon-nitrogen balance, and stress resistance. In this study, tea plant ‘Zhongming 7’ was subjected to dark treatment and normal light treatment under nitrogen-deficient conditions. The results indicate that dark treatment resulted in a decrease in SPAD values and a noticeable lightening of leaf color. Transcriptome analysis identifies 3 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 1 492 upregulated and 1 743 downregulated. KEGG enrichment analysis reveals significant enrichment of DEGs in pathways related to nitrogen metabolism, plant circadian rhythms and phytohormone signaling. Among the identified DEGs, an Elongated Hypocotyl 5 (CsHY5) gene was screened for further investigation. Protein-protein interaction network analysis reveals that CsHY5 primarily interacts with circadian rhythm-related genes. The expression level of the CsHY5 gene in new shoot tissues of three tea cultivars was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The results reveals that the expression level of CsHY5 gene in the leaves of ‘Zhongming 7’ was higher than those observed in ‘Yunkang 10’ and ‘Hongya Foshou’. Transcriptome sequencing and RT-qPCR analysis indicate that the CsHY5 gene was downregulated under dark treatment. These findings suggest that CsHY5 may serve as a key node in the cross-regulation between light signaling and nitrogen metabolism, playing a crucial role in tea plants' response to combined dark treatment and nitrogen deficiency stress.

Research on the Influence of Waterlogging Stress on Tea Plant Growth and Corresponding Recovery Strategies

LI Jianlong, LIAO Yinyin, CHEN Jiaming, ZHANG Man, ZENG Lanting, NONG Hongqiu, TANG Jinchi

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 264-278. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.008

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Tea plants, as a significant economic crops in China, are characterized by their preference for moisture and vulnerability to waterlogging. Currently, there is few research concerning the damage caused by waterlogging to tea plants and the post-waterlogging recovery measures, so the analysis of agronomic measures such as pruning is of great significance to the restoration of tea growth. Here, the effects of waterlogging stress on the growth of ‘JinXuan’ tea plants were analyzed, and disclosed that it can result in disruption of the rhizosphere micro-ecological equilibrium in roots of tea plants. Harmful microorganisms, such as anaerobic bacteria (including Azospira, Citrifermentans, etc.) and pathogenic fungi (Phaeomoniellales, Gibberella, etc.), accumulate in the roots. Meanwhile, it also decreases the expressions of related element transporter genes and element levels (Ca, K, Zn, P) in the roots of tea plants, while increases the content of Fe. The pruning approach can significantly increase the hundred-buds weight, length, widthand leaf area of the third leaves of waterlogged tea plants, thereby increasing the tea yield. It could promote the recovery of tea plants by enhancing the absorption and transport of nitrogen by the root system.

Response of Phyllosphere Microorganism in Tea Plants Under Disease Infection

YE Chengcheng, WU Xiuyun, LI Zicheng, WU Suidian, JIN Shanfa, ZHU Jie

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 279-291. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.004

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Phyllosphere microorganism play a critical role in plant disease resistance, yet their response mechanisms under pathogen infection require further exploration. This study investigated the structural and functional dynamics of phyllosphere microbial communities in healthy and infected leaves of Camellia sinensis cv. ‘Zhirenzao’ to elucidate their responses to pathogen invasion and potential roles in disease defense. In this study, we collected healthy and infected leaves, and analyzed them by high-throughput gene sequencing and microbiome analysis to identify primary pathogens, delineate bacterial and fungal community structures, and predict microbial functions. The results reveal that Fusarium and Pestalotia were the dominant pathogenic genera in the infected leaves A (IA) and B (IB), respectively. Both bacterial and fungal α-diversity were significantly higher in the infected leaves compared to those of healthy leaves (P<0.05), and the β-diversity analysis also reveals significant structural differences. In terms of species composition, the healthy leaves were dominated by Proteobacteria (79.9%), while the infected leaves were mainly composed of both Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Within the fungal communities, Dothideomycetes was a co-dominant class, while the infected leaves were dominated by Sordariomycetes, Agaricomycetes and Eurotiomycetes. LEfSe analysis further identified the significant differentiating species: the healthy leaves were dominated by potentially beneficial microbes like Trichococcus and Pseudomonas, whereas the infected leaves were primarily composed of pathogenic genera including Didymella, Plectosphaerella, Fusarium and Pestalotia. The results from functional prediction demonstrate that microbial functions in the healthy leaves were enriched for photosynthesis and carbon fixation pathways, while the infected leaves exhibited significant increase in pathways for bacterial chemotaxis, flagellar assembly and butyrate metabolism. FUNGuild annotation further reveals an increase in the proportion of plant pathogens, plant saprotrophs and wood saprotrophs in the diseased leaves, potentially reshaping the phyllosphere microbial community, where the proliferation of pathogens and decline of beneficial microbes may collectively impair host resistance. These findings provide a theoretical framework for understanding phyllosphere microbial functions in plant-pathogen interactions and establish a scientific basis for developing biocontrol strategies against tea plant diseases.

A Multi-step Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing Approach for Monitoring Stresses in Tea Garden

YU Yingtan, YUAN Lin, NIE Chenwei, JIN Zijing, CHEN Dongmei, LI Zhengzhen, LI Xin

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 292-310. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.010

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Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is an important economic crop in China. Its production process is highly susceptible to stresses such as pests and diseases, which subsequently lead to a reduction in yield and quality. Accurate monitoring of stress conditions in tea garden is therefore essential for precision and smart management. This study focused on three typical stresses: tea geometrid (Ectropis obliqua), heat stress and anthracnose (Colletotrichum camelliae), and proposed a stepwise multi-stress monitoring method based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing. The research first focused on the characteristics of tea garden ridge-and-furrow structures. By combining a decision tree and edge detection (DT-ED) algorithm, which utilizes the RedEdge band, high-precision extraction of tea rows was achieved. Subsequently, considering the spatial distribution differences of stress within tea garden plots, a plot type discrimination model was constructed based on the coefficient of variation (CV) of the plot's spectrum and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). This model successfully categorized plots into entirely healthy plot (EHTP), entirely stressed plot (ESTP), and partially stressed plot (PSTP), achieving an overall accuracy of 94.7%. Based on this classification, a differentiated strategy was applied: UAV five-point sampling was used for stress assessment and health validation in ESTP and EHTP plots, while a two-step approach of “abnormal zone detection-stress type identification” was applied to PSTP plots. The abnormal zones were delineated using two-stage clustering strategy. Stress type classification was then carried out using algorithms such as support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and multilayer perceptron (MLP). The results show that the MLP achieved the best performance, with an overall accuracy of 92.3%. The findings demonstrate that the proposed multi-step monitoring method can effectively improve the accuracy and efficiency of multi-stress identification in tea garden, providing technical support for smart tea garden management and offering a methodological reference for other economic crops.

Identification of A Pathogen Isolated from Tea Grey Blight Leaves

LIU Rong, YAO Yuxian, WANG Xing′e, LIU Bingxiang, SHUAI Qin, ZHAO Yongtian

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 311-317. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.001

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Tea grey blight is one of the most important diseases in tea producing areas in China, which is common in old leaves, mature leaves and young bud leaves. In this study, a strain L352 was isolated and purified from tea grey blight leaves in Duyun City, Guizhou. The strain L352 was identified based on morphological characteristics and a multi-gene phylogenetic tree was established using the ITS, β-tub and EF-1α genes. The results show that the conidia of strain L352 were mostly composed of 5 cells with 4 transverse-septa, featuring three pigmented cells in the middle. Occasionally, 6 cells with 5 transverse-septa were observed, containing four pigmented cells in the middle. The phylogenetic tree indicates that it was clustered into a relatively independent clade with Pestalotiopsis rosea, with a support rate of 100%. The pathogen was finally identified as Pestalotiopsis rosea, and it was the first discovery of this species causing tea grey blight disease in Camellia sinensis.

Identification and Biological Characterization of Two Novel Fusarium Pathogen Causing Tea Leaf Blight in Motuo Conty, Xizang

JIN Huai, CUI Ting, WANG Nan, WEI Liping, ZHANG Rong, GONG Wenfeng

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 318-330. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.007

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In June and July 2024, two Fusarium spp. strains were isolated from blighted leaves of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) in Motuo County, Linzhi City, Xizang, China. Species identification was conducted using morphological characteristics, multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, and Koch's postulates. The results identified the strains as Fusarium dracaenophilum and Fusarium asiaticum. Pathogenicity tests confirm that both species induce tea leaf blight. In varietal pathogenicity assays, ‘Zhonghuang 1’ exhibited significantly stronger resistance to both pathogens than ‘Fuding Dabaicha’. The results of the biological characterization reveal that F. asiaticum exhibits optimal growth conditions at temperatures ranging from 20 ℃ to 25 ℃ and at pH levels between 7 and 9. The presence of sucrose, maltose, lactose, and yeast extract has been demonstrated to stimulate F. asiaticum growth. F. dracaenophilum exhibits optimal growth at 25 ℃ and pH 7, with lactose and yeast extract being the most favorable nutrients. These findings enhanced understanding of Fusarium pathogen diversity and provided a theoretical basis for managing foliar diseases in tea plantations in Xizang.

Response Surface Methodology Optimization and Molecular Docking for Aroma Analysis of Lushan Yunwu Tea

WU Huiling, SHI Xiangqun, YU Menghan, JIN Ruting, HE Yanlu, LIAO Mingxin, GAO Yinxiang

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 331-342. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.009

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To elucidate the aroma profile of Lushan Yunwu Tea, a Box-Behnken experimental design combined with response surface methodology was applied to optimize the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) conditions, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Additionally, olfactory receptors corresponding to the odorants were inferred from molecular structural features. Ligand-binding sites were predicted using machine-learning methods, and semi-flexible molecular docking was finally conducted for the odorant-olfactory receptor complexes. The results indicate that the optimal extraction conditions obtained by response surface optimization were as follows: sample weight 1.03 g, extraction time 43 min, and extraction temperature 73 ℃, with a validation error of 4.13%. A total of 87 volatile compounds belonging to ten chemical classes, including alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, were identified in Lushan Yunwu Tea. The key odorants with odor activity values (OAVs)≥1 were linalool, β-cyclocitral, geraniol, α-copaene, α-ionone and trans-β-ionone. Molecular docking reveals that all odorant-receptor pairs exhibited binding energies ≤﹣4.0 kcal·mol^-1. This study not only optimized the analytical method for profiling tea aroma, but also innovatively employed molecular docking to validate the key aroma-active constituents. The findings provided a foundation for elucidating the formation mechanisms of Lushan Yunwu Tea aroma and offered references for its processing optimization and quality assessment.

Construction of Novel Tea/Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’ Fusogenic Nanovesicles and Evaluation of Their Anti-inflammatory and Antitumor Activities

WANG Ying, ZHOU Chuang, GAO Jianjian, PENG Jiakun, WANG Jiatong, SHI Jiang, PENG Qunhua, LIN Zhi, DAI Weidong, ZHOU Mengxue

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 343-358. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.012

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Plant exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNVs), as inherent components of plants, are nanoscale vesicles secreted by plant cells. They are inherently rich in bioactive compounds, and their vesicular structure makes them ideal “green” drug delivery vehicles. To overcome the limitations of single-source plant ELNVs, this study employed membrane fusion technology to combine tea ELNVs and Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’ ELNVs for the first time, creating novel fusogenic nanovesicles. We subsequently characterized the physicochemical properties of novel fusogenic nanovesicles, elucidated their fundamental composition, assessed their stabilities in simulated digestive fluids, and evaluated their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities through cellular assays. The results indicate that the novel fusogenic nanovesicles are a reconstituted liposome integrating multiple functional components, including tea polyphenols (catechins), hesperetin, hesperidin, nobiletin, quercetin, active phospholipids and proteins. They exhibit a spherical morphology with a phospholipid bilayer structure, demonstrating good dispersibility with uniform particle size. Additionally, the novel fusogenic nanovesicles demonstrate excellent stability in both simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Cell-based experimental results show that the novel fusogenic nanovesicles significantly alleviated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress damage and inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells, while exhibiting superior antitumor efficacy. The findings of this study not only provided novel insights into the application of natural plant ELNVs, but also established a scientific foundation for developing innovative multifunctional oral nutraceuticals.

Physiological Characteristics, Safety Evaluation and Anti-hyperuricemia of Weizmannia coagulans TMCC70717 from Tea

JIA Man, ZOU Xiaolin, HUANG Xiao, LU Kaiyang, XIE Jilin, DING Zhanggui, JIANG Jielin

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 359-368. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.006

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To evaluate the potential of Weizmannia coagulans TMCC70717 isolated from the traditional Pu’er tea piling fermentation, the physiological characteristics of the strain were evaluated through morphological and physiological and biochemical experiments. The genome sequencing was conducted and the functional genes were annotated using COG, KEGG and GO databases. Pathogenicity was analyzed and safety was evaluated through drug resistance, hemolysis and acute oral toxicity tests in rats. The anti-hyperuricemia potential of the strain was evaluated through animal experiments. The mechanism of anti-hyperuricemia was revealed through in vitro xanthine oxidase activity inhibition experiments. The results indicate that TMCC70717 is gram-positive and rod-shaped, capable of fermenting substrates such as L-arabinose, D-ribose and D-xylose to produce acid. It exhibits no resistance to 11 common antibiotics, including amikacin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol. It has no hemolytic activity, and the genomic analysis confirmed its non-pathogenic nature with an LD₅₀>20 g·kg^-1 body weight in rats, classifying it as practically non-toxic. The anti-hyperuricemia evaluation demonstrates that oral administration at a dose of 1.0 g·kg^-1 for 28 days significantly reduced renal and hepatic damage compared to the control group, with a notable decrease in serum uric acid levels (P<0.05). The in vitro xanthine oxidase activity inhibition rate (OD₆₀₀=2) was (60.15±0.35)%. The research has revealed the edible safety of the tea-originating Weizmannia coagulans TMCC70717 and its protective effect on rats with hyperuricemia. Its uric acid-lowering effect is mediated by inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase, thereby reducing uric acid level. The final result is a decrease in serum uric acid levels. This study provided a theoretical foundation and scientific data for the exploration of microbial resources in traditional pile-fermented Pu’er tea and the development and utilization of functional Pu’er tea products.

Research on the Internationalization Models and Strategies of Chinese Novel Tea Beverage Brands

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

Journal of Tea Science. 2026, 46(2): 369-380. doi:10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2026.02.013

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This study adopted case analysis and comparative research methods, incorporating the eclectic theory of international production (OLI framework) to systematically explore the internationalization paths and realization mechanisms of Chinese novel tea beverage brands. Four representative brands including Heytea, Auntea Jenny, Wanglaoji, and Chagee were selected as typical cases to analyze four reprentative models: direct localized operation, brand licensing or franchising, product or raw material export, and bundled joint ventures. On this basis, by analyzing the differentiated combinations of ownership advantages, location choices, and degrees of internalization across different brands, this paper reveals the internal logic of how novel tea beverage enterprises build core competitiveness in foreign markets. The findings indicate that the dynamic trade-offs between these OLI dimensions determine the effectiveness of brand embedding under varied institutional distances. Currently, the industry faces common challenges such as cognitive gaps in consumption, standard certification barriers, and difficulties in localized team building. It is suggested that enterprises should establish global quality control systems and enhance brand value through cross-cultural narratives to achieve a strategic transition from overseas expansion to global symbiosis.

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