Studies on the ‘fermentation’ of Ceylon tea

Abstract

Attempts to demonstrate directly by spectroscopic methods the presence of cyto-chrome in tea have been unsuccessful. Spectroscopic investigation of highly active tea-oxidase prepns., showed that the enzyme could not be identified with cytochrome oxidase. Manometric results have confirmed this conclusion. Some of Roberts''s previous results have been reviewed in the light of the later work and certain differences have been satisfactorily accounted for. From the evidence presented, Roberts''s cytochrome theory of tea fermentation cannot be considered valid.