Zijuan is a unique tea variety from Yunnan Daye tea [Camelliasinensis var. assamica (Mast.) Kitamura]. The bud, leaf, and stem of the fresh Zijuan tea shoot appear purple because they are rich in anthocyanins. The functional components of Zijuan tea have attracted significant attention worldwide in the field of tea science, due to its scientific value and economic potential. The composition of 3"-methyl-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG3"Me) in Zijuan tea was detected by HPLC and LC-MS and its processing technology were analyzed. The results showed that the content of EGCG3"Mein fresh leaves was 1.05%; meanwhile, the highest EGCG3"Mewas observed in the third leaf (1.24%) among the leaves of young shoots with a bud and five leaves. Processing methods such as steaming green tea or sun-drying green tea did not affect the EGCG3"Me content in the tea leaves. Moreover, higher epicatechin gallate and epicatechin contents and lower epigallocatechin gallate content were found in the tea catechins of Zijuan as compared to normal roasted green tea.
