Abstract:Instant Pu-erh teas with different matrix yields were prepared by controlling extraction temperature. The aroma quality of Pu-erh tea and instant Pu-erh tea samples with different matrix yields were analyzed by sensory evaluation, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-olfactometry and aroma extraction dilution method, and the dilution factors and odor activity values were calculated. 13 key aroma substances were detected in Pu-erh tea, and 7, 8, 8, 10 and 10 key aroma substances were identified from the Instant Pu-erh tea samples with different matrix yields (6.54%, 14.61%, 20.32%, 24.02%, 27.41%), respectively. The condensates were recovered from different stages of distillation in water at atmospheric pressure to investigate the release trends of the key aroma substances in the instant tea with different matrix yields, and the peak areas of the key aroma substances were determined. The changing trends of the key aroma components were significantly fitted to a power function model (P<0.01). Based on the trends of peak area changing with the increasing matrix yield, the key aroma substances of the instant tea were classified into 5 categories: I, nerol and dihydroactinodiolide (their increasing showed an increase followed by decrease; II, linalool, β-ionone, 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene and 3,4,5-trimethoxytoluene (their release rates increased); III, 3,4-dimethoxytoluene, 1,2,4-trimethoxytoluene and 2,4-trimethoxytoluene (their release rates decreased); IV, α-ionone (its release rate decreased then increased); V, geranyl acetone (which was not associated with matrix yield). In conclusion, all the individual key aroma substances exhibited different release trends with the increase of matrix yield.