Rapid screening and selection of low-caffeine-containing tea (Camellia sinensis) trees by a colorimetric method

Abstract

A simple and rapid colorimetric method for the determination of caffeine has been developed. Tea tree lines from the Hadong region in South Korea differ widely in their caffeine contents and this colorimetric method facilitated an effcient screening strategy for the selection of low-caffeine-containing lines. A high correlation was observed between the values obtained with colorimetric and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. Among the selected tree lines, the caffeine content for the lowest caffeine-containing tea tree line (H-19) was 178.35 mu g/g dry weight basis, which was 61-fold less productive than the highest caffeine-producing tea tree line (H-82). Caffeine contents of the selected tea tree lines remained similar during the corresponding collection periods. The colorimetric method is of great practical value in screening low-caffeine-containing tea trees.