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Changes in the specific activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and protease and in the relative amounts of flavan-3-ols for eight genetically derived cultivated teas at various stages of leaf maturity and in four succescive seasons were examined. A series of investigations were carried out to study the cross-reactivity of complex polyphenols and PPO-generated orange-yellow theaflavins, as well as of POD oxidized substrates, producing brown so-called thearubigins during fermented tea processing. From the estimation of five major catechins, PPO activities in young shoots, and theaflavin and thearubigin contents of crushed, torn, and curled (CTC) black teas, the superior variety and flavorful flush characteristics were refined. Notable protein hydrolysis by endogenous protease as measured from free amino acids and formation of tannin-protein complex (browning products) was obtained for cultivar character and product quality. Results showed that process optimization with respect to time, temperature, moisture, and pH maximizes PPO-catalyzed desirable theaflavin pigments, whereas POD-mediated chemical reaction produces dull color.

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The formation of thearubigin pigments in prevalent commercial manufacturing systems such as orthodox roll, roll followed by curling, tearing, crushing (CTC), rotorvane combined with CTC and CTC alone was studied in the six Tocklai released clones TV-1, TV-2, TV-8, TV-9, TV-17 and TV-18. The contribution of the pigment composition, especially thearubigins of high, intermediate and low molecular weights as separated by a Sephadex LH 20 column, was examined on the basis of the types of leaves, degree of wither and roll, conditions of fermentation and the temperature and type of drying. It was apparent that the biochemical pathway in the black tea processing could be conveniently followed from the thearubigin formation. Further, the amount of high molecular weight thearubigin could determine the quantity of cream formed in a black tea brew. The thearubigin and concomitant pigments such as theaflavin have distinct organoleptic properties and their variation was reflected in the overall quality of the finished product.