• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.461-468
• /
• 2008

To obtain basic da1a on the preparation of Cudrania tricuspidata leaves tea, the quality and anti-oxidative characteristics of dried raw leaves (RT), pan-fired leaves tea (PT) and fermented leaves tea (FT) were investigated. General characteristics of RT, PT and FT, respectively, were: moisture content 18.47, 6.23 and 8.50%; crude protein content 17.77, 20.46 and 19.13%; and carbohydrate content 54.42, 62.52 and 61.96%. The crude lipid and ash contents were in the range 0.05 - 0.07% and 9.27 -10.74% respectively; the water soluble solid content was in the order FT > PT > RT and ranged from 23.10 - 37.38%; there were no significant differences in the total polyphenol content (815.24 - 835.16 mg%). Although $L^*$ values of PT (20.94) and FT (20.85) were lower than those of RT (34.71), the $a^*$ value in PT and the $b^*$ value in FT were highest. In all ethanol extracts the reducing power, electron-donating ability and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the activity in FT was higher than in PT or RT. The total free amino-acid content was higher in FT (1429.93 mg%) than RT (1108.94 mg%) or PT (833.13 mg%). The major amino acids were L-asparagine and L-valine in RT, L-cysteine and L-glutamic acid in PT and L-proline in FT. In a sensory evaluation of PT and FT, bitter and astringent tastes were decreased relative to RT, while sweet and savory tastes, flavor, color and overall acceptability were increased. These results indicate that FT bas a higher antioxidant effect and free-amino-acid content than PT, while the sensory quality of FT is similar to that of PT.