From heat to flavor: Unlocking new chemical signatures to discriminate Wuyi rock tea under light and moderate roasting

Roasting is crucial for the distinct flavor of Wuyi rock tea (WRT). This study applied untargeted metabolomics to investigate the effects of roasting on 139 WRT samples roasted at light fire (LF) or moderate fire (MF) intensities. Compared to LF, MF roasting led to a decrease in the cis/trans flavanol ratio by 56% and theanine by 85%, while increasing the levels of N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidione-substituted flavanols (EPSFs), flavonol aglycones and flavone C-glycosides. Two new roast markers, 3-p-coumaroyl 1,5-lactone and 4-p-coumaroyl 1,5-lactone, were identified in WRT and their formation increased with roasting temperature. MF roasting facilitated the formation of diverse heterocycles (e.g., pyrazines) and aldehydes (e.g., (Z)-4-heptenal and (E,E)-2.4-decadienal) that contributed to the augmented roasted and fatty odors in WRT. Additionally, the Maillard product furfuryl methyl ether was solely detected in MF samples. These findings provide novel insights into roast markers in WRT with implications for improving quality control measures during tea roasting.