Identification of key odorants responsible for chestnut-like aroma quality of green teas

Abstract A chestnut-like aroma is widely considered an important indicator of an excellent-quality green tea; however, the key odorants responsible for chestnut-like aroma have never been systematically studied and remain unknown. In this study, the aroma components of green teas and Chinese chestnuts were analyzed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS), and 58 compounds were identified as common aroma components among green teas, boiled Chinese chestnuts, roasted Chinese chestnuts and raw Chinese chestnuts. Subsequently, 17 volatiles, including 3-methylbutanal, ( E )-3-penten-2-one, ethylbenzene, heptanal, benzaldehyde, 2-pentylfuran, octanal, benzeneacetaldehyde, ( E )-2-octenal, ( E,E )-3,5-octadien-2-one, linalool, nonanal, ( E )-2-nonenal, decanal, ( Z )-hex-3-en-1-yl hexanoate, trans -β-ionone and ( E )-nerolidol, were identified as the key odorants responsible for chestnut-like aroma based on the odor activity value (OAV) calculation method. Besides, the comparison of OAVs of key odorants between fresh tea leaves and finished teas indicated that all key odorants were present in fresh tea leaves and that their contents increased or decreased during tea processing. Moreover, the comparison between results of OAV and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) methods showed that ethylbenzene, heptanal, benzaldehyde, 2-pentylfuran, ( E,E )-3,5-octadien-2-one, linalool, ( Z )-hex-3-en-1-yl hexanoate and trans -β-ionone were the common identified compounds between the two methods. The identification of chestnut-like aroma in green teas will provide a theoretical basis for further research on the directional adjustment and control of tea aroma quality.