Another thread to uncover the aging mystery of white tea: Focusing on the natural nanoparticles in tea infusion

Aged white tea (WT) has promising medicinal potential, but how to accurately identify aged white tea is still a difficult problem. Inspired by tea cream, the relationship between the characteristics of nanoparticles in tea infusion and aging time was studied. The results showed that with the increase of aging time, the particle size of white tea nanoparticles (WTNs) decreased gradually. Microscopic images showed that the surface structure of WTNs was changed in three aspects: the waxy layer, the cuticle layer and the palisade tissue. Additional in vitro modeling demonstrated a strong correlation between nanoparticle size and protein and tea polyphenol content. The correlation between nanoparticle sizes and aging time was further verified in aged Pu'er raw tea. Starting with the tea infusion's nanoparticles, this study showed that the aging time of WT would impact the nano-particles' properties, offering a unique way to determine the aging period of WT.

Automated summary

By studying the relationship between the characteristics of nanoparticles in tea infusion and aging time, it was found that the size of white tea nanoparticles decreased gradually with the increase of aging time, and the surface structure of the nanoparticles also changed. In vitro modeling further demonstrated a strong correlation between nanoparticle size and protein and tea polyphenol content, and this correlation was further verified in aged Pu'er raw tea. This study offers a unique way to determine the aging period of white tea based on the properties of its nanoparticles.