2014-2016 seasonal rainfall effects on metals in tea (Camelia sinensis (L.) Kuntze)

Hui Huang; Nicole Kfoury; Colin M Orians; Timothy Griffin; Selena Ahmed; Sean B Cash; John Richard Stepp; Dayuan Xue; Chunlin Long; Albert Robbat Jr

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.075

2014-2016 seasonal rainfall effects on metals in tea (Camelia sinensis (L.) Kuntze)

Chemosphere. 2019 Mar:219:796-803. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.075. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Authors

Hui Huang¹, Nicole Kfoury², Colin M Orians³, Timothy Griffin⁴, Selena Ahmed⁵, Sean B Cash⁶, John Richard Stepp⁷, Dayuan Xue⁸, Chunlin Long⁸, Albert Robbat Jr⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; School of Resources and Chemical Engineering, Sanming University, Fujian, China.
² Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Tufts University Sensory and Science Center, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
³ Tufts University Sensory and Science Center, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
⁴ Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
⁵ Food and Health Lab, Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems Program, Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
⁶ Tufts University Sensory and Science Center, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
⁷ Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
⁸ College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
⁹ Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Tufts University Sensory and Science Center, 200 Boston Ave, Suite G700, Medford, MA, 02155, USA. Electronic address: albert.robbat@tufts.edu.

PMID: 30572233
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.075

Abstract

Plant-climate interactions affect the edible crop composition, impacting flavor, nutrition, and overall consumer liking. In this study, principal components analysis was used to assess the macro- and micronutrient metal concentrations in pre-monsoon (spring), monsoon (summer), and post-monsoon (autumn) tea (Camelia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) from Yunnan Province, China in 2014-2016. Statistical differences were observed (p = 1.35E-24). Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, and Ba concentrations were higher in June (monsoon) than in March (pre-monsoon) and September (post-monsoon) compared to Pb, K, Cu, Zn, and Na, which were higher in March and September. Although Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, and Ba concentrations increased during the monsoon season, sensory analysis did not detect metallic taste in either minimally processed or farmer-processed (commercial) teas. This finding shows the seasonal differences in flavor were due to striking differences in organic chemical composition and concentration.

Keywords: Climate change; Elevation; ICP/OES; Season; Tea quality.

MeSH terms

China
Metals / analysis*
Rain / chemistry
Seasons*
Taste / drug effects
Tea / chemistry*
Trace Elements / analysis

Substances

Metals
Tea
Trace Elements