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Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. In recent years, the health benefits of both green and black tea have been actively investigated. Several key bioactives such as epicatechin, epigallacatechin gallate, theaflavins, theannine, and black tea polyphenols have been identified and have been linked to unique health benefits. These health benefits imply that there is significant potential to develop functional teas that deliver efficacious levels of tea bioactives. The health benefits that are useful in the context of developing functional teas relate to (i) improvement in vascular function for epicatechin and black tea polyphenols, (ii) antiobesity or weight loss with epigallocatechin gallate as the bioactive, (iii) cholesterol‐lowering and antiinflammatory effect for theaflavins, and (iv) a calm or relaxed mental state and improved immunity due to theanine. In addition to the health benefits, the flavor of tea is an important attribute and it can be manipulated using tea aroma compounds. The requisite levels of these molecules are different from the currently existing levels. Biotechnology is the primary route to deliver efficacious levels of these bioactives in tea and also for engineering the tea flavor using tea aroma. The biotechnological approaches that are useful are (i) the engineering of the biosynthetic pathway; (ii) the enzymatic/microbial biosynthesis of the molecules of interest; and (iii) extraction of these molecules from tea, purification and subsequent incorporation into the tea product. These approaches are discussed with specific examples to establish the current status of the technology and the future applications for the development of functional teas.

Short chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) are well-recognized prebiotic fibers. Fossence™ (FOSS) is a scFOS that has been produced from sucrose via a proprietary fermentation process and has not been tested for its digestibility or glucose/insulin response (GR and IR, respectively). The present randomized, controlled, cross-over study was conducted in 3 phases to explore GR and IR to ingestion of FOSS, when replaced by/added to availablecarbohydrates (avCHO) among 25 healthy adults (40 AE 14years). In each phase GR and IR elicited by 3-4 testmeals were measured among the fasted recruited subjects. The interventional test meals were as follows: Phase-1, water alone or 10g FOSS or 10g Dextrose in 250ml water; Phase-2, 250ml water containing Dextrose:FOSS (g:g) in the content as 50:0 or 50:15 or 35:0 or 35:15; Phase-3 portions of white-bread (WB) containing avCHO:FOSS (g:g) in the content as 50:0 or 50:15 or 35:0 or 35:15. Blood samples (finger prick method) were collected at fasting and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after start of test meal ingestion. Plasma glucose and serum insulin were analyzed utilizing standard methods. The primary endpoint was differences in glucose IAUC. All subjects provided their written consent to participate in the study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03755232). The results demonstrated that FOSS, when consumed alone, showed no raise in glycaemia or insulinemia and was statistically equivalent to response of water alone. GR and IR elicited by dextrose:FOSS and WB:FOSS test-meals of Phase 2 and Phase 3, were statistically equivalent to the respective test-meals without FOSS. Result of the 3 phases support the hypothesis that FOSS is resistant to breakdown and is indigestible in the human small-intestine, and therefore can be classified as an unavailable carbohydrate that does not raise post prandial blood glucose or insulin. FOSS, being sweet to taste, may be an acceptable sugar replacer in beverages without compromising their taste and sensory qualities.

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Objectives To explore the physiological response to ingestion of FossenceTM, a short chain fructo-oligosaccharide, when taken alone or when added or substituted into a carbohydrate load. Methods In a randomized, controlled, cross-over design, 25 healthy subjects completed three phases (phase 1: 13M:12F; 41 ± 14y; 24.4 ± 2.2 kg/m²; phase 2: 13M:12F; 40 ± 14y; 24.5 ± 2.4 kg/m²; phase 3: 13M:12F; 41 ± 14y; 24.3 ± 2.6 kg/m²; Mean ± SD). On separate days, each subject received in Phase 1: 10 g FossenceTM(10FOS), 10 g Dextrose (10Dex) or a water control (Control); Phase 2: 50 g Dextrose alone (50Dex), Dextrose with 15 g FossenceTM(50Dex + 15FOS), 35 g Dextrose alone (35Dex) or Dextrose with 15 g FossenceTM(35Dex + 15FOS); and Phase 3 received: 50 g available carbohydrate (avCHO) from white bread alone (50WB) or with 15 g FossenceTM(50WB + 15FOS), 35 g avCHO from white bread alone (35WB) or with 15 g FossenceTM(35WB + 15FOS). Blood samples were collected at fasting and over 2 hours after the start of the test meal and analyzed for glucose and insulin levels. The primary endpoint was differences in glucose IAUC. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03755232). Results Phase 1: The glucose IAUC was significantly lower after 10FOS and Control compared to 10Dex (P < 0.0001). Similarly, the insulin IAUC was significantly lower after Control and 10FOS compared to 10Dex (P < 0.0001). Phase 2: The glucose IAUC was significantly lower after 35Dex and 35Dex + 15FOS compared to 50Dex (P < 0.0001). Insulin IAUC was significantly lower after 35Dex compared to 50Dex and 50Dex + 15FOS, the IAUC of 35Dex + 15FOS was significantly lower than 50Dex (P < 0.0003). Phase 3: The glucose IAUC was significantly lower after 35WB and 35WB + 15FOS compared to 50WB and 50WB + 15FOS (P < 0.00001). Insulin IAUC was significantly lower after 35WB and 35WB + 15FOS compared to 50WB and 50WB + 15FOS (P < 0.00001). Conclusions These studies demonstrate that FossenceTM, when consumed alone, does not increase postprandial glucose and insulin levels, indicating it is resistant to breakdown. When added to a carbohydrate load, no increase in postprandial glucose or insulin levels is observed while substitution of 30% of glycemic carbohydrate by FossenceTMsignificantly decreased postprandial glucose and insulin levels. FossenceTM, being sweet to taste, may be advised to individuals on restricted sugar intake. Funding Sources Tata Chemicals Ltd, India.