Impact of processing method on selected trace elements content of green tea: Does CTC green tea infusion possess risk towards human health?

Abstract

This study reported the content of selected metals, viz. cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) as well as non-carcinogenic risks of orthodox green tea and CTC (crush, tear and curl) green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) in India. Results revealed that significantly higher amount of Cr (1.26–10.48 mg kg−1), Cu (13.40–22.73 mg kg−1), Fe (54.14–99.65 mg kg−1), Ni (3.43–7.09 mg kg−1), and Zn (25.04–38.04 mg kg−1) in CTC green tea than orthodox one. However, no definite trend was observed for Cd and Pb, with overall contents ranged from 6.68 to 23.32 µg kg−1 and 0.04 to 0.13 mg kg−1, respectively. The extraction of the elements in tea infusion was higher for CTC green tea. The hazard quotient and hazard index values of all the studied metals were less than unity, confirming no significant health effect for consumers assuming drinking of 750 mL tea infusion prepared from 10 g green tea per day per person.

Keywords

• Orthodox green tea
• CTC green tea
• Infusion
• Trace elements
• Health hazard