Quantitative analysis of metabolites in Korean green tea using NMR

The plucking season of green tea leaves is one of the important parameters that decide their metabolic quality. Here, we performed the identification and quantity analysis of the metabolites of the green tea using NMR spectroscopy. We assigned the 1H resonances for sixteen metabolites. This analysis found that four metabolites, gallic acid, quinic acid, theobromine and ECG, exhibited clear discrimination of green teas by the three different grades, Ujeon, Sejak and Jungjak. Our results suggest that these four metabolites could be used for diagnostics for quality control of green tea.