N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-substituted flavan-3-ols
(EPSFs) were prepared by an in vitro model reaction,
and the taste thresholds of EPSFs and their dose-over-threshold factors
in large-leaf yellow tea (LYT) were investigated. The effects of initial
reactant ratios, reaction temperatures and time, pH values, and water
addition on the yield of EPSFs were explored. The contents of EPSFs
during roasting were determined by liquid chromatography quadrupole
time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). When the initial ratio
of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to theanine was 1:2
and roasted under 120 °C for 120 min, the contents of EPSFs were
the highest. The bitterness and astringency thresholds of four EPSF
isomers were measured by the half-tongue method, of which EPSF2 and
EPSF3 had higher thresholds than EGCG. In LYT, four EPSFs had lower
bitterness and astringency dose-over-threshold factors than EGCG.
This study suggested that the reduction of bitterness and astringency
of tea after roasting may be mainly due to the formation of EPSFs.