Metabolomics of Tea Plants

Tea beverages have gained immense popularity globally as highly desirable non-alcoholic drinks, owing to their distinct flavor, enticing aroma, and wide range of health advantages. These desirable traits are primarily attributed to specialized metabolites present in tea plants, such as catechins, theanine, and caffeine. In-depth analysis of the type, abundance, and metabolic pathways of these specialized metabolites significantly contributes to tea plant improvement and their practical applications in production. Metabolomics has greatly facilitated achieving this goal by enabling comprehensive analysis of tea metabolites. This chapter provides a summary of frequently used analytical tools for metabolic profiling and presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in tea plant research utilizing metabolomics techniques. The ongoing application and advancement of metabolomics technology will play a pivotal role in driving the progress of theoretical research on tea plants and fostering innovation within the tea industry.