Sensory evaluation The tea infusions were subjected to
sensory profiling according to quantitative descriptive
analysis method (Stone et al. 1974). Trained panelists (12
members) participated in the evaluation. The descriptors
were derived after initial discussion, where the panelists
were provided with evaluation charts and were asked to
describe the samples with descriptive terms suitable for the
samples. The common descriptors chosen by more than one
third of the panelists were used for development of a ‘score
card’, which consisted of all attributes on a 15 cm scale
each. Evaluation was carried out in a sensory laboratory
with individual booths under fluorescent lighting similar to
daylight. Samples of tea infusion were kept in hot water
bath and served at 40 °C in 3 digit coded glass containers.
Panelists were asked to indicate the perceived intensities of
the attributes by drawing a vertical line on the scale and
writing the code number. Distilled water was used for
rinsing and puffed rice for cleansing the palate in between
evaluations.
Statistical analysis Principal component analysis (PCA)
was performed using the sensory scores of each attribute
over samples to find the underlying interrelationships. Total
PP, Tf and Tr were taken as major chemical constituents for
the analysis. All data were expressed as mean ± standard
deviation (SD) of three independent replicates. PCA biplot
and analysis were done using a statistical package ‘Statistica’
(1999) software “StatSoft, USA”.