{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T10:51:20Z","timestamp":1788346280104,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773014400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Project of the Science and Technology Department of Yunnan","award":["202502AE090028"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202502AE090028"]}]},{"name":"Basic Research Key Project of Yunnan","award":["202501AS070039"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202501AS070039"]}]},{"name":"Yunnan Provincial Joint Project of Basic Agricultural Research","award":["202401BD070001-007"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202401BD070001-007"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study developed an optimized processing strategy for \u03b3-aminobutyric acid (GABA) instant white tea (GABA-IT) using GABA-enriched white tea as raw material, systematically characterizing its chemical composition and volatile profile. In contrast to the conventional instant tea production process, this work integrates response surface methodology with spray-drying parameter optimization. This integrated approach enables the simultaneous enhancement of functional components and sensory quality. A response surface design was employed to refine the extraction and spray-drying variables following preliminary single-factor trials, and the optimal parameter combination was subsequently determined (40% ethanol concentration, material-to-liquid ratio of 1:15, extraction time of 3 days, atomization speed of 300 rpm, and inlet temperature of 120 \u00b0C); the resulting GABA-IT exhibited significantly improved quality characteristics. Specifically, the GABA content increased by 209% (reaching 4.42 mg\/g), and theanine, catechins, and caffeine were enriched by 200\u2013300%. Regarding volatile profiles, processing led to a reduction in esters but an increase in aldehydes and hydrocarbons. Relative odor activity value (rOAV) analysis revealed that epoxy-\u03b2-ionone and linalool were the key contributors to the characteristic aroma of GABA-IT. Collectively, this study demonstrates the technical feasibility of producing GABA-rich instant tea with enhanced functional components and improved sensory quality, providing practical guidance for the large-scale industrial production of functional tea beverages.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods15050967","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T17:16:03Z","timestamp":1773076563000},"page":"967","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Process Optimization of GABA Instant White Tea Based on Response Surface Methodology and Analysis of Key Flavor Substances"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Dihan","family":"Yang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"The National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwestern China, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"College of Tea Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Teng","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"The National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwestern China, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wenwen","family":"Jiao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Wuliangye Technology and Food Engineering, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin 644000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qiuyue","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"The National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwestern China, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nianguo","family":"Bo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"The National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwestern China, Kunming 650201, 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Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwestern China, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"College of Tea Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ping","family":"Liang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"The National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwestern China, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"College of Tea Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bei","family":"Cai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China"},{"name":"The National & Local Joint Engineering 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