Effects of storage durations on flavour and bacterial communities in Liupao tea

Long-term storage of Liupao tea is conducive to improving its flavour and commercial value. Although bacterial communities influence Liupao tea flavour, their impact during storage remains unclear. The aroma compounds and bacterial communities were determined by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) and Illumina Nova6000 analysis. A total of 18 differential flavour compounds were significantly altered with Liupao tea storage duration, particularly after 9 years of storage. Flavour compounds with sweet notes increased, while those associated with pungent note decreased. The composition and diversity of bacteria remarkable changed after 9 years of tea storage. Six core functional bacteria were identified as contributing to the flavour characteristics of Liupao tea during long-term storage. Our findings provide novel insights that bacteria drive the formation of flavour characteristics during Liupao tea storage duration, and Liupao tea stored for more than 9 years have the best flavour.