# Unveiling Fermentation Effects on the Functional Composition of Taiwanese Native Teas

## TL;DR

This study examines how different processing stages affect the chemical composition of Taiwanese native teas, revealing how fermentation and roasting influence key bioactive compounds.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed chemical map of Taiwanese native teas across multiple processing stages.

## Key findings

- Fermentation significantly alters tea chemistry, increasing theasinensins and gallic acid while reducing catechins and L-theanine.
- Large-leaf cultivars have higher catechins and gallic acid, while small-leaf teas are richer in caffeine and amino acids.
- Roasting reduces amino acids but has little effect on caffeine levels.

## Abstract

Tea’s chemical composition is influenced by cultivar, harvest maturity, and growing environment; however, processing remains the dominant factor shaping final quality. Despite the diversity of Taiwanese native teas, systematic comparisons of functional components across multiple manufacturing stages remain limited. In this study, nine representative Taiwanese teas were evaluated at four key processing stages—green tea (G), enzymatic fermentation (oxidative fermentation, F), semi-finished tea prior to roasting (S), and completed tea (C)—to clarify how enzymatic oxidation, rolling, and roasting alter major bioactive constituents. Green-tea-stage samples exhibited clear cultivar-dependent profiles: large-leaf cultivars contained higher catechins and gallic acid, whereas bud-rich small-leaf teas showed elevated caffeine and amino acids, with amino acids further enhanced at higher elevations. Fermentation intensity governed the major chemical transitions, including catechin depletion, gallic acid formation, accumulation of early stage catechin-derived paired oxidative polymerization compounds (POPCs), and pronounced increases in theasinensins in heavily fermented teas. L-theanine decreased most markedly in teas subjected to prolonged withering. Roasting further reduced amino acids but had minimal influence on caffeine, while rolling effects varied by tea type. Overall, this study provides the first stage-resolved chemical map of Taiwanese native teas, offering practical insights for optimizing processing strategies to enhance functional phytochemical profiles.