Multi-omics insights into aroma formation in congou black tea during fermentation

This study used multi-omics technologies to analyze aroma formation during Congou black tea fermentation. Volatile compounds were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry using two columns of different polarity. Fermentation increased total volatile normalized peak area fivefold, with alcohols, aldehydes, and acids increasing over sevenfold. 29 differential metabolites were screened, including amino acid derived phenylacetaldehyde, phenylethanol, and 2-methylbutanal; fatty acid derived (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, hexanal, and 1-hexanol; and isoprenoid derived linalool, geraniol, and beta ionone. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and enzyme analyses revealed that biosynthesis contributed to early accumulation of amino acid and isoprenoid derived aromas, whereas ortho quinone mediated Strecker degradation and free radical induced fatty acid auto oxidation dominated generation of amino and fatty acid derived aromas during middle and late fermentation. In conclusion, aroma formation during fermentation results from biosynthesis and non-enzymatic oxidation, with the latter possibly dominating amino and fatty acid derived aromas.