4.5.4 Pickled tea
Relatively little attention has been paid to the flavour and aroma compounds present in different types of pickled tea. The relatively uncontrolled nature of the process also means that considerable variation is likely. In general flavour and aroma compounds are of two types, the first similar to those found in semi-fermented tea and derived by enzymic action, the second probably microbial in origin. Acetic acid and other volatile acids are important products of microbial metabolism in pickled tea and are largely responsible for the characteristic sour flavour. Secondary alcohols, such as 2 butanol, 2-heptanol, hepten-2-ol and 1-octen-3-ol, as well as acetoin are also present in significant quantities. Mo are probably involved in production of 1 octen-3-ol, which has a musty odour. A component of the flavour spectrum of soy sauce, 4-ethyl phenol, is probably derived from coumaric acid, while phenols, such as methylguaiacol, 4- ethylguaiacol and 4-propylguaiacol, are products of the microbial degradation of ferulic acid. Phenols impart a characteristic smoky flavour to pickled tea