Characterization of aroma profiles of Tanyang Congou black tea with flowery-fruity flavor: Insights from sensory evaluation and HS-SPME-GC-O-MS

Tanyang Congou black tea, renowned for its distinctive floral and fruity aroma, is meticulously produced using the shaking technique. However, the specific aroma profile and the key odor-active compounds responsible for this characteristic fragrance have not been fully elucidated. This study integrated sensory evaluation with molecular sensory science approaches to identify and characterize the principal odorants contributing to the tea's aroma. Sensory analysis confirmed that the prepared black tea exhibited typical high-quality attributes, with a prominent floral and fruity aroma markedly reduced in lower-grade samples. A total of 70 volatile compounds were detected, among which 29 key aroma-active compounds were identified across all three quality grades using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) and gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS). Of these, 16 volatiles exhibited high flavor dilution (FD) factors (≥8), and 11 compounds showed relative odor activity values (ROAV) greater than 1. Notably, seven compounds-(<i>E</i>)-<i>β</i>-ionone, (E)-nerolidol, geraniol, citral, linalool, hexanal, and phenylacetaldehyde-were identified as the primary contributors to the characteristic floral-fruity aroma of Tanyang Congou black tea. These findings provide comprehensive insight into the aroma profile of Tanyang Congou black tea, offering a scientific basis for quality assessment and targeted aroma modulation in tea production.