The main objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects
of different extraction conditions, solvents and forms of tea
(bagged or loose leaf) used on the quantitative and qualitative
content of phenolics in tea infusions; (2) to establish possible correlations
between the antioxidant capacity of tea infusions and
the extraction methods and forms of tea and solvents used; (3)
to compare the qualitative and quantitative phenolic contents
and antioxidant capacity of green tea infusions with those of
white tea; (4) to validate a new HPLC method for the analysis
of tea flavanols (catechins), flavonols, flavones and phenolic acids
in a single run.