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Effects of season and nitrogen fertiliser upon the flavanol composition and tea making quality of fresh shoots of tea ( Camellia sinensis L.) in Central Africa
Author(s) -
Hilton P. J.,
PalmerJones R.,
Ellis R. T.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740240710
Subject(s) - camellia sinensis , shoot , catechin , composition (language) , nitrogen , nutrient , growing season , botany , theaceae , horticulture , chemistry , biology , polyphenol , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , antioxidant
The concentration of flavanols in fresh apical shoots of tea was highest during the cold season. Shoots plucked during slow growth conditions contained a higher proportion of simple catechins to catechin gallates, (−)‐epigallocatechin being most significantly affected. The predominant effect of nitrogen fertiliser was to depress the concentration of (−)‐epigallocatechin in the shoot. The significance of these findings with respect to tea quality is discussed.