Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science

Longjing tea is popular due to its unique flavor characteristics, and the brewing process is of crucial importance in presenting its flavor. This study investigated how brewing temperature (BT) impacts Longjing tea's sensory and molecular profile. Sensory evaluations demonstrated that lower bre...

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Main Authors: Sihan Deng, Qing-Qing Cao, Ying Gao, Weiwei Wu, Jian-Xin Chen, Fang Wang, Qian Zou, Fangxiang Xu, Xuefeng Cao, Weijiang Sun, Jun-Feng Yin, Yong-Quan Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Food Chemistry: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525004821
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author Sihan Deng
Qing-Qing Cao
Ying Gao
Weiwei Wu
Jian-Xin Chen
Fang Wang
Qian Zou
Fangxiang Xu
Xuefeng Cao
Weijiang Sun
Jun-Feng Yin
Yong-Quan Xu
author_facet Sihan Deng
Qing-Qing Cao
Ying Gao
Weiwei Wu
Jian-Xin Chen
Fang Wang
Qian Zou
Fangxiang Xu
Xuefeng Cao
Weijiang Sun
Jun-Feng Yin
Yong-Quan Xu
author_sort Sihan Deng
collection DOAJ
description Longjing tea is popular due to its unique flavor characteristics, and the brewing process is of crucial importance in presenting its flavor. This study investigated how brewing temperature (BT) impacts Longjing tea's sensory and molecular profile. Sensory evaluations demonstrated that lower brewing temperatures (70–80 °C, with 70 °C optimal) enhanced umami taste while diminishing bitterness and astringency. LC-MS based metabolomics analysis revealed that the reduced BT enhanced umami taste by modulating free amino acid composition, while higher BT accelerated the leaching of flavonols and flavonol/flavone glycosides, exacerbating bitterness and astringency. Taste-addition experiments and molecular docking identified L-aspartic acid, L-theanine and L-arginine as key umami contributors, which synergistically enhanced umami intensity (1.77 to 6.83, p < 0.05) through stabilizing the Glu-T1R1/T1R3 complex and lowered binding free energy (−5.084 to −10.618 kcal/mol). These findings provided novel insights into the intricate relationship between BT and the flavor profile of Longjing tea.
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spelling doaj-art-e8e6d7be518442529c2e943b67b2dd8b2025-08-20T03:10:46ZengElsevierFood Chemistry: X2590-15752025-05-012810263510.1016/j.fochx.2025.102635Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory scienceSihan Deng0Qing-Qing Cao1Ying Gao2Weiwei Wu3Jian-Xin Chen4Fang Wang5Qian Zou6Fangxiang Xu7Xuefeng Cao8Weijiang Sun9Jun-Feng Yin10Yong-Quan Xu11Tea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, China; College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaTea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, China; Corresponding authors.Tea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaTea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaTea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaHunan Chayue Culture Industry Development Group Co., LTD, 102-1, Building 8, Huayuan Hua Center, No. 36, Section 2, Xiangjiang Middle Road, Changsha 410118, ChinaHunan Chayue Culture Industry Development Group Co., LTD, 102-1, Building 8, Huayuan Hua Center, No. 36, Section 2, Xiangjiang Middle Road, Changsha 410118, ChinaHunan Chayue Culture Industry Development Group Co., LTD, 102-1, Building 8, Huayuan Hua Center, No. 36, Section 2, Xiangjiang Middle Road, Changsha 410118, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaTea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, ChinaTea Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Laboratory for Tea Plant Germplasm Innovation and Resource Utilization, 9 South Meiling Road, Hangzhou 310008, China; Corresponding authors.Longjing tea is popular due to its unique flavor characteristics, and the brewing process is of crucial importance in presenting its flavor. This study investigated how brewing temperature (BT) impacts Longjing tea's sensory and molecular profile. Sensory evaluations demonstrated that lower brewing temperatures (70–80 °C, with 70 °C optimal) enhanced umami taste while diminishing bitterness and astringency. LC-MS based metabolomics analysis revealed that the reduced BT enhanced umami taste by modulating free amino acid composition, while higher BT accelerated the leaching of flavonols and flavonol/flavone glycosides, exacerbating bitterness and astringency. Taste-addition experiments and molecular docking identified L-aspartic acid, L-theanine and L-arginine as key umami contributors, which synergistically enhanced umami intensity (1.77 to 6.83, p < 0.05) through stabilizing the Glu-T1R1/T1R3 complex and lowered binding free energy (−5.084 to −10.618 kcal/mol). These findings provided novel insights into the intricate relationship between BT and the flavor profile of Longjing tea.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525004821Brewing temperatureMetabolomicsTaste addition experimentMolecular dockingUmami synergy
spellingShingle Sihan Deng
Qing-Qing Cao
Ying Gao
Weiwei Wu
Jian-Xin Chen
Fang Wang
Qian Zou
Fangxiang Xu
Xuefeng Cao
Weijiang Sun
Jun-Feng Yin
Yong-Quan Xu
Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science
Food Chemistry: X
Brewing temperature
Metabolomics
Taste addition experiment
Molecular docking
Umami synergy
title Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science
title_full Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science
title_fullStr Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science
title_full_unstemmed Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science
title_short Elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of Longjing tea based on multi-scale molecular sensory science
title_sort elucidating the effect of brewing temperature on the sensory quality of longjing tea based on multi scale molecular sensory science
topic Brewing temperature
Metabolomics
Taste addition experiment
Molecular docking
Umami synergy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525004821
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