Potential Use of Kenyan Tea Cultivars in Development of High Value Diversified Products

  • Samson M. Kamunya Tea Research Institute (TRI), P.O. Box 820-20200, Kericho, Kenya
  • Mutuku A. Muthiani Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P.O Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya
  • John K. Wanyoko Tea Research Institute (TRI), P.O. Box 820-20200, Kericho, Kenya
  • Francis N. Wachira Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), P.O Box 765, Entebbe, Uganda
  • Richard M. Chalo Tea Research Institute (TRI), P.O. Box 820-20200, Kericho, Kenya
  • Samuel Kimutai Department of Chemistry, Egerton University, P.O Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya
  • Rashid Khalid Department of Experimental immunology of the Eye, University of Cologne, 50931, cologne, Germany
  • Stephen Karori Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P.O Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya

Abstract

Tea industry in Kenya contributes to the economy by being the largest agribusiness and a major foreign
exchange earner. However, significant revenue is lost when tea is sold in undiversified form. This has created a need
to characterize the available clones for suitability in high value tea product development. Samples were obtained from
204 tea accessions conserved in Kericho and Kangaita Centres of the Tea Research Institute (TRI) and assayed for total
polyphenols, catechins, caffeine, anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid and theanine. There were significant cultivar differences
(P≤0.05) in total polyphenols (16.4%- 30.9%) and total catechins (11.03%-25.42%). Sixteen (16) new clones recorded
significantly (P≤0.05) higher polyphenol contents (mean value of 28.11%) than the standard reference clone, TRFK
6/8 (27.4%) indicating their suitability in the development of high quality black teas. Fifteen clones were suitable for
the manufacture of theaflavin-3, 3’-digallate rich black tea based on their high ECG and EGCG levels. Clones TRFK
301/5 and TRFK 301/4 had a high EGC/EC and low EGCG/ECG ratios and were found suitable for manufacture of less
astringent green orthodox teas, while clones TRFK 687/1 and 73/7 had the least caffeine contents at 1.96% and 2.04%,
respectively, implying their amenability for manufacture of low-caffeine tea beverages. Clones assayed for chlorogenic
acid and theanine showed that AHP SC 31/37 and TRFK 6/8 had the highest contents at 0.13% and 1.7%, respectively,
and are suitable for chlorogenic and theanine rich teas. The observed chemical and therefore quality differences based on
clones and regions show that these Kenyan tea cultivars have high diversity in biochemical attributes and maybe suitable
for development of diversified tea products with geographical indications.
Keywords: Catechins; total polyphenols; chlorogenic acid; anthocyanins; theanine; caffeine, Kenya.

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How to Cite
Kamunya, S., M. Muthiani, J. Wanyoko, F. Wachira, R. Chalo, S. Kimutai, R. Khalid, and S. Karori. “Potential Use of Kenyan Tea Cultivars in Development of High Value Diversified Products”. International Journal of Tea Science, Vol. 12, no. 01, May 2016, pp. 30-48, doi:10.20425/ijts.v0iof.9599.