The present study aims to improve the sweet aftertaste and overall acceptability of green tea infusion by
hydrolyzing ()-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and ()-epicatechin gallate (ECG) with tannase. The
results showed that the intensity of the sweet aftertaste and the score of overall acceptability of the green
tea infusion significantly increased with the extension of the hydrolyzing treatment. ()-Epigallocatechin
(EGC) and ()-epicatechin (EC) were found to be the main contributors for the sweet aftertaste, based on
a trial compatibility with EGCG, ECG, EGC, and EC monomers, and a synergistic action between EGC and
EC to sweet aftertaste was observed. A 2.5:1 (EGC/EC) ratio with a total concentration of 3.5 mmol/L gave
the most satisfying sweet aftertaste, and the astringency significantly inhibited the development of the
sweet aftertaste. These results can help us to produce a tea beverage with excellent sweet aftertaste
by hydrolyzing the green tea infusion with tannase.