Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes

China′s ancient tea gardens boast a rich resource, and their unique environmental conditions cause their quality differences. In this study, flavor components and aroma compounds of fresh leaves from four Dancong ancient tea gardens (Zimao (ZMF), Baixiang (BX), Xialiao (HSK), and Da′an (DAF)) at dif...

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Main Authors: Xinyuan Lin, Wei Huang, Zihao Qiu, Jiyuan Yao, Hongbo Zhao, Waqar Khan, Binmei Sun, Shaoqun Liu, Peng Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/9/1339
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author Xinyuan Lin
Wei Huang
Zihao Qiu
Jiyuan Yao
Hongbo Zhao
Waqar Khan
Binmei Sun
Shaoqun Liu
Peng Zheng
author_facet Xinyuan Lin
Wei Huang
Zihao Qiu
Jiyuan Yao
Hongbo Zhao
Waqar Khan
Binmei Sun
Shaoqun Liu
Peng Zheng
author_sort Xinyuan Lin
collection DOAJ
description China′s ancient tea gardens boast a rich resource, and their unique environmental conditions cause their quality differences. In this study, flavor components and aroma compounds of fresh leaves from four Dancong ancient tea gardens (Zimao (ZMF), Baixiang (BX), Xialiao (HSK), and Da′an (DAF)) at different altitudes were determined by HPLC and GC–MS and then correlated with elemental contents. The results showed that low-altitude tea gardens ZMF had a higher caffeine content (5.21%) and astringency index (0.82) compared to other high-altitude tea gardens, which led to a more bitter taste and astringent sensation. Fresh leaves from ZMF had a higher content of linalool (151.31 μg/kg) and geraniol (61.09 μg/kg) than those of other tea gardens. Correlation analysis showed that the bitter and astringent indexes had a strong correlation with element N content (correlation coefficient: 0.74, 0.48); volatile compounds had significant positive or negative correlations with various elemental contents, among which the correlation coefficient between element Al content and linalool content of fresh leaves was −0.83 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The fresh leaves of ZMF tea gardens had a higher N content and lower Al, Si, and Hf content, which may cause more bitterness astringency and differences in volatile compounds in their teas than those of higher altitude tea gardens. The results of the study further provide guidance for the scientific management of Dancong ancient tea gardens.
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spelling doaj-art-7b1f57cce2aa4828ab77a7b7cd4e2f142025-08-20T02:58:47ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01149133910.3390/plants14091339Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying AltitudesXinyuan Lin0Wei Huang1Zihao Qiu2Jiyuan Yao3Hongbo Zhao4Waqar Khan5Binmei Sun6Shaoqun Liu7Peng Zheng8College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaChina′s ancient tea gardens boast a rich resource, and their unique environmental conditions cause their quality differences. In this study, flavor components and aroma compounds of fresh leaves from four Dancong ancient tea gardens (Zimao (ZMF), Baixiang (BX), Xialiao (HSK), and Da′an (DAF)) at different altitudes were determined by HPLC and GC–MS and then correlated with elemental contents. The results showed that low-altitude tea gardens ZMF had a higher caffeine content (5.21%) and astringency index (0.82) compared to other high-altitude tea gardens, which led to a more bitter taste and astringent sensation. Fresh leaves from ZMF had a higher content of linalool (151.31 μg/kg) and geraniol (61.09 μg/kg) than those of other tea gardens. Correlation analysis showed that the bitter and astringent indexes had a strong correlation with element N content (correlation coefficient: 0.74, 0.48); volatile compounds had significant positive or negative correlations with various elemental contents, among which the correlation coefficient between element Al content and linalool content of fresh leaves was −0.83 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The fresh leaves of ZMF tea gardens had a higher N content and lower Al, Si, and Hf content, which may cause more bitterness astringency and differences in volatile compounds in their teas than those of higher altitude tea gardens. The results of the study further provide guidance for the scientific management of Dancong ancient tea gardens.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/9/1339Dancong teaancient tea gardenflavor componentaroma compoundelement
spellingShingle Xinyuan Lin
Wei Huang
Zihao Qiu
Jiyuan Yao
Hongbo Zhao
Waqar Khan
Binmei Sun
Shaoqun Liu
Peng Zheng
Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes
Plants
Dancong tea
ancient tea garden
flavor component
aroma compound
element
title Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes
title_full Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes
title_fullStr Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes
title_short Impact of Fresh Leaf Elements on Flavor Components and Aroma Quality in Ancient Dancong Tea Gardens Across Varying Altitudes
title_sort impact of fresh leaf elements on flavor components and aroma quality in ancient dancong tea gardens across varying altitudes
topic Dancong tea
ancient tea garden
flavor component
aroma compound
element
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/9/1339
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