Artificial Intelligence Sensing: Effective Flavor Blueprinting of Tea Infusions for a Quality Control Perspective

Overview

Journal Molecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Feb 10

PMID 38338309

Authors

Andrea Caratti

Angelica Fina

Fulvia Trapani

Carlo Bicchi

Erica Liberto

Chiara Cordero

Federico Magagna

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tea infusions are the most consumed beverages in the world after water; their pleasant yet peculiar flavor profile drives consumer choice and acceptance and becomes a fundamental benchmark for the industry. Any qualification method capable of objectifying the product's sensory features effectively supports industrial quality control laboratories in guaranteeing high sample throughputs even without human panel intervention. The current study presents an integrated analytical strategy acting as an Artificial Intelligence decision tool for black tea infusion aroma and taste blueprinting. Key markers validated by sensomics are accurately quantified in a wide dynamic range of concentrations. Thirteen key aromas are quantitatively assessed by standard addition with in-solution solid-phase microextraction sampling followed by GC-MS. On the other hand, nineteen key taste and quality markers are quantified by external standard calibration and LC-UV/DAD. The large dynamic range of concentration for sensory markers is reflected in the selection of seven high-quality teas from different geographical areas (Ceylon, Darjeeling Testa Valley and Castleton, Assam, Yunnan, Azores, and Kenya). The strategy as a sensomics-based expert system predicts teas' sensory features and acts as an AI smelling and taste machine suitable for quality controls.

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