The atlas of dark tea: Mapping complexities of their microbiome

Background

Microorganisms in dark tea play an indispensable role in its ecosystem management. Despite the challenging conditions inherent to dark tea, a mere gram of its matrix can harbor a diverse array of microbial taxa, including bacteria and fungi. The interplay between dark tea and its microbiome is essential for ensuring quality and safety. Beneficial microbial communities significantly contribute to dark tea's rheological properties and organoleptic characteristics.

Scope and approach

This paper aims to elaborate on microbiome ecosystems in dark tea, microbial functions on dark tea quality, technology advances in microbiome research, and challenges of revealing microbiota-dark tea substrate interactions.

Key findings and conclusion

The dark tea industry is now well-positioned to identify how to manipulate and manage the dark tea microbiome to enhance flavor, ensure safety, and improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which these ecosystems will adapt to environmental changes.