Perceptual interactions of key aroma compounds in Fu brick tea: Odor threshold, sensory, and E-nose analysis

While extensive research has focused on the flavor of Fu brick tea (FBT), the perceptual interactions among its aromatic components remain unclear. To address this, twenty representative aroma compounds were selected from FBT to determine their thresholds and evaluate their interactions by analyzing threshold changes before and after mixing. The results revealed discrepancies between the determined thresholds and literature values, particularly for α-terpineol, methyl heptenone, and geranylacetone, which demonstrated ratios of 73.54, 6.62, and 6.41, respectively. Mixtures with similar aromas or structures exhibited synergy, whereas those with differing aromas or structures displayed masking effects. Additionally, the odor compound (E)-nerolidol was added to the tea infusion at a concentration below its threshold level to investigate its impact on the overall aroma perception of FBT through sensory analysis and electronic nose assessments. The findings indicated that sub-threshold compounds could significantly influence the overall aroma profile of FBT.