Changes in sensory characteristics, chemical composition and microbial succession during fermentation of ancient plants Pu-erh tea.

"Ancient tea plants" are defined as tea trees > 100 years old, or with a trunk diameter > 25 cm; their leaves are manufactured to high - quality, valuable ancient plants pu-erh tea (APPT). In this study, a fermentation of APPT were developed, and outstanding sweetness of APPT infusion was observed. During fermentation, the content of soluble sugars, theabrownins ( < 0.05), as well as 41 metabolites were increased [Variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1.0;  < 0.05 and Fold-change (FC) FC > 2]; While relative levels of 72 metabolites were decreased (VIP > 1.0,  < 0.05 and FC < 0.5. , , , , , , and were identified as dominant genera, and their relative levels were correlated with contents of characteristic components ( < 0.05). Together, changes in sensory characteristics, chemical composition and microbial succession during APPT fermentation were investigated, and advanced the formation mechanism of its unique quality.