Abstract:

Fluorine content of tea leaves in mountainy tea gardens in Zhejiang Province and the influence factors were measured in 68 random plots, and a soil sample, a Spring's tea sample and an Autumn's tea sample were collected in each plot. The results showed that 99.3% of the total tea samples met the requirement of NY659-2003 in respect of fluorine, and the mean content of all 136 samples was much lower than the average fluorine level of Chinese green tea. The leaf fluorine contents of in the Spring and Autumn tea were respectively (60.28±47.00) and (61.43±31.19) mg·kg^-1 and there was no statistical difference between them. Regression analyses on the fluorine contents of tea and soil indicated that the fluorine content in soil significantly affect the fluorine content in Spring's tea but not that in Autumn's tea. The fluorine content of tea leaves was not different in relation to the altitude of tea gardens. However, the fluorine content was significantly (P＜0.01) different among various varieties of tea plants (Camellia sinensis), which suggested the capabilities for them to absorb and accumulate fluorine from their environment were different.

Key words: Zhejiang Province, mountainy tea gardens, fluorine content, affecting factors