Metabolomic Study on Indonesian Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis L.) Cultivation

Abstract

Background: Indonesia has been one of the largest tea producers in the world with one of the reputable plantations in Ngargoyoso region, Java Island in which the plantation specified in five green teas variants, TRI 2024, TRI 2025, Gambong, Kiara and Chinruan. Despite their premium quality, there were limited metabolites information related to varieties, altitude, and plucking position existed in Ngargoyoso. Objective: this research aimed to investigate metabolite profiling affected by varieties, plucking positions and altitudes in the tea plantation grown in Ngargoyoso, Indonesia. Material and Methods: Green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) grown in the plantation are five varieties TRI 2025, Gambong, TRI2024, Kiara and Chinruan in Ngargoyoso. Results: 1H NMR metabolomics protocol successfully identified TRI 2025 variety to have higher levels of theanine, catechins and caffeine than other varieties. The young leaves plucking position showed a higher level of catechin, EGCG, caffeine, theobromine, and L-glutamine than the older ones. While green tea at 1159 masl contains a higher level of theanine, L-glutamin, α-glucose, β-glucose, quinic acid, and succinic acid than those at 899 masl. This makes the TRI 2025 variety at the young position can be recommended to be the best quality in taste and benefits. Conclusion: Present study might suggest the tea quality based on metabolites profiling both for taste and benefits.