Table 2.
Unique compounds in high and low elevation pu-erh tea and their sensory active and/or health beneficial properties.
| High Elevation Compounds | Aroma * | Health Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| furfural | woody, almond, baked bread | — |
| 18 | — | — |
| (2E)-hexenal | green, banana, aldehydic | antimicrobial [27] |
| 2-furanmethanol | sweet, caramel, burnt | — |
| (2E)-hexenol | leafy, fruity, unripe banana | — |
| 2-heptanol | fruity, oily, fatty | — |
| 2,5-dimethylpyrazine | cocoa, roasted nuts | — |
| 2(5H)-furanone | buttery | — |
| heptanol | musty, leafy, herbal, peony | cardioprotective [28] |
| (3E)-hexenoic acid | fruity, honey, acidic | — |
| 101 | — | — |
| (3Z)-hexenyl acetate | green, banana, apple | — |
| heptanoic acid | rancid, sour, sweat | — |
| 2-methoxyphenol | phenolic, smoke, spice | — |
| maltol | caramel, cotton candy, fruity | antianxiety [29], antioxidant [30] |
| 114 | — | — |
| 511 | — | — |
| (3Z)-hexenyl butyrate | green apple, fruity, wine | — |
| (2E)-hexenyl butyrate | green, apricot, ripe banana | — |
| hexyl butyrate | fruity, apple, waxy | — |
| 512 | — | — |
| 514 | — | — |
| nerol | neroli, citrus, magnolia | antibacterial [31], antifungal [32], antinociceptive/anti-inflammatory [33] |
| (3Z)-hexenyl valerate | apple, kiwi, unripe banana, tropical | — |
| (3Z)-hexenyl isovalerate | green apple, tropical, pineapple | — |
| phenylethyl acetate | rose, fruity | — |
| pentyl hexanoate | pineapple, apple, pear | — |
| 1-nitro-2-phenyl ethane | floral, spice | cardioprotective [34] |
| γ-nonalactone | coconut, creamy, waxy, buttery | — |
| (3Z)-hexenyl hexenoate | waxy, pear, winey, grassy, pineapple | — |
| hexyl hexanoate | fresh cut grass, vegetable | — |
| (2E)-hexenyl caproate | cognac, herbal, waxy | — |
| (Z)-jasmone | floral, woody, herbal, spicy | antibacterial [35], anticancer [36] |
| (E,E)-α-farnesene | citrus, lavender, bergamot, | — |
| 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol | phenolic | antioxidant [37] |
| δ-cadinene | thyme, woody | — |
| (Z)-calamenene | herb, spice | antimalarial [38], antitumor [39] |
| dodecanoic acid | fatty, coconut, bay oil | cardioprotective [40], antibacterial/anti-inflammatory [41] |
| caryophyllene oxide | woody, spicy | anticancer/analgesic/anti-inflammatory [42] |
| τ-muurolol | herbal, spicy, honey | antibacterial [43], antioxidant [44] |
| α-cadinol | herbal, woody | antibacterial/antioxidant [43], anticancer [45], anti-inflammatory [45] |
| bancroftinone | — | — |
| Low Elevation Compounds | Aroma * | Health Benefit |
| ethyl acetate | weedy, green | — |
| isoamyl alcohol | alcoholic, banana | antifungal [46] |
| (2E)-pentenal | pungent, green apple, orange, tomato | — |
| m-ethyltoluene | — | — |
| 118 | — | — |
* Aroma information was obtained from The Good Scents Company (http://thegoodscentscompany.com/).