Abstract: To explore the effect of growing altitude on the quality of Zhenghe white tea, the sensory quality and biochemical composition of tea leaves and Zhenghe white tea from different altitudes were evaluated, and multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the obtained data. The results of sensory evaluation showed that there were significant differences in the quality of white tea from different altitudes. The mid- and high-altitude white tea tasted fresh, mellow and clean with a clean and pure aroma, while the low-altitude white tea tasted mellow and thick with a floral aroma. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that soluble sugars, caffeine, 3-carene, verbenenol, terpene oleene, cis-2-pentenol, 2-ethylfuran and cis-2-hexene-1-alcohol were the key components to distinguish fresh tea leaves from different altitudes. The contents of soluble sugar, cis-2-hexene-1 alcohol and cis-2-pentenol were higher in the mid- and high-altitude samples, while the contents of volatile components such as caffeine, 3-carene, verbenol and terpinolene were higher in the low-altitude samples. Soluble sugar, free amino acid, terpinolene, verbenol, 2-ethyl furan, 2-methylbutyraldehyde, 2-phenylethanol and 3-carene were the key components to distinguish white tea from different altitudes. The contents of soluble sugar and free amino acid were higher in the high-altitude white tea, and the contents of volatile components such as terpinolene, verbenol, phenyl ethanol and 3-carene were higher in the mid- and low-altitude samples, but low in the high-altitude samples. According to odor activity value (OAV) analysis, 2-methyl butyl aldehyde, 3-carene and terpinolene could be used as the characteristic volatile components to identify white tea samples from different altitudes. The results of this study will provide a reference for further exploring the flavor quality of tea from different altitudes.

Key words: white tea; fresh leaves; altitude; taste; aroma