Abstract:
Herbal tea is valued for its natural, health-boosting properties, and pomegranate
leaves, rich in bioactive compounds and nutrients, make it an ideal base for herbal tea
production. This study analyzed the phytochemical and mineral content, and
antioxidant properties of leaves of four pomegranate cultivars: Nayana, Kalpitiya
hybrid, Nimali, and Daya to develop a consumer-preferred herbal tea by blending
with black tea. The antioxidant capacity was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl
hydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, while total
phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured by the
Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric methods respectively. Mineral content was analyzed
using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and the caffeine
content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
method. The optimal blend of pomegranate leaf and black tea was selected based on
sensory evaluation among 50:50, 60:40, and 80:20 ratios. Parametric and sensory data
were analyzed using ANOVA and the Friedman test in R and SPSS software,
respectively. The phytochemical, antioxidant, and mineral contents of the leaves of
all four tested cultivars are ideal for herbal tea. Significantly (p<0.05) higher values
of TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ORAC (162.12±1.64 mg GAE g-1, 12.94±0.07 mg QE g-1,
33.93±0.23 mg TE g-1, 194.86±1.53 mg TE g-1 DW) compared to black tea (106.5±1.7
mg GAE g-1, 11.32±0.13 mg QE g-1, 23.13±0.1 mg TE g-1, 182.28±2.62 mg TE g-1
DW) revealed the improved antioxidant properties and beneficial bioactive
compounds in the herbal tea blend (60:40). The 60:40 pomegranate leaf:black tea
blend received significantly (p<0.05) high scores for all sensory attributes, indicating
a strong preference among the tested blends. Lower caffeine content (0.82% (w/w))
was recorded in the 60:40 tea blend, compared to black tea (2.23% (w/w)) confirming
that the pomegranate-leaf tea blend is a low-caffeine alternative, a promising option
for health-conscious consumers.
