Protein content
Although no other nitrogen source was added to the tea
before fermentation, the protein level increased rapidly
with fermentation time. These proteins likely represent
extra cellular proteins secreted by bacteria and yeasts during
the fermentation time (Sreeramulu et al., 2000). The
protein content was rapidly increased from 0.1 to 3.0 mg/
ml through 12 days of fermentation and thereafter continued
to decrease due to decrease in extracellular proteins
secreted by the bacteria and yeast (Fig. 1).