Abstract
The catechin content in green tea leaves varies according to cultivation conditions such as intensity of solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation, and thus, there is ambiguity about the best harvest time for obtaining optimal functional effects. In this study, the Yabukita (ordinary) and Benifuki varieties, which contain methylated catechin, were used to determine the difference in green tea catechins according to harvest times and tea manufacturing processes. Caffeine determination was also carried out to provide information about green tea intake for all age‐groups of children and pregnant women. Determining the quantity of each catechin was difficult because of degradation, polymerization, and isomerization that had occurred during heat‐drying in the refining process. In addition, the absorption of catechin compounds was tested using miniature swine because of their functional and physiological similarity to humans. Benifuki tea leaves contained epigallocatechin‐3‐(3”‐O‐methyl) gallate (EGCg3”Me) instead of epigallocatechin‐3‐(4”‐O‐methyl) gallate (EGCg4”Me). However, EGCg4”Me was detected during the entire intake period, but EGCg3”Me was not detected in the blood of miniature swine fed Benifuki tea. It is possible that the position of the methyl group was modified by the pig metabolism. Furthermore, caffeine from both Yabukita and Benifuki tea varieties was found to be easily accumulated in miniature swine. These results suggest that nonrefined September–October picking tea (autumn and winter tea) of the Benifuki variety is preferable over the Yabukita variety for consumption by children and pregnant women owing to its lower caffeine content and higher content of methylated catechin.
Highlights
Tea varieties such as green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are consumed globally, and green tea in particular is consumed in large quantities in Japan
Methylated catechins are methylated in the gallate group of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg)
Benifuki was due to the isomerization of EGCg during metabolism
Summary
Tea varieties such as green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are consumed globally, and green tea in particular is consumed in large quantities in Japan. The catechin content in green tea leaves varies according to cultivation conditions such as intensity of solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation, and there is ambiguity about the best harvest time for obtaining optimal functional effects. Refinements in tea manufacturing processes influence the functional effects of green tea. The Yabukita (ordinary) and Benifuki (methylated catechin (Maeda‐Yamamoto et al, 2009)) varieties were used in this study to investigate how green tea catechins are influenced by harvest times and tea manufacturing processes. We investigated the effects of caffeine after intake of green tea, as it may affect all age‐ groups, including children and pregnant women. Miniature (not micro) swine were used as a model to investigate the metabolism of catechins and caffeine. The only difference between miniature swine and commonly known edible pigs is size, but their biological features such as sex cycle and life span are almost the same
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