molecular weight thearubigens nor the theaflavins, but a series of 14 flavon-3-ol glycopyranosides
besides some catechins, might be important contributors to black tea taste. To further bridge the gap
between pure structural chemistry and human taste perception, in the present investigation 51 putative
taste compounds have been quantified in a black tea infusion, and their dose-over-threshold (Dot)
factors have been calculated on the basis of a dose/threshold relationship. To confirm these
quantitative results, an aqueous taste model was prepared by blending aqueous solutions of 15 amino
acids, 14 flavonol-glycosides, 8 flavan-3-ols, 5 theaflavins, 5 organic acids, 3 sugars, and caffeine in
their “natural” concentrations. Sensory analyses revealed that the taste profile of this artificial cocktail
did not differ significantly from the taste profile of the authentic tea infusion. To further narrow the
number of key taste compounds, finally, taste omission experiments have been performed, on the
basis of which a reduced recombinate was prepared containing the bitter-tasting caffeine, nine velvety
astringent flavonol-3-glycosides, and the puckering astringent catechin as well as the astringent and
bitter epigallocatechin-3-gallate. The taste profile of this reduced recombinate differed not significantly
from that of the complete taste recombinate, thus confirming these 12 compounds as the key taste
compounds of the tea infusion. Additional sensory studies demonstrated for the first time that the
flavanol-3-glycosides not only impart a velvety astringent taste sensation to the oral cavity but also
contribute to the bitter taste of tea infusions by amplifying the bitterness of caffeine.