Theabrownin is a bioactive compound found in pu-erh tea, a traditional beverage with a specific brown tinge that has long been consumed in the Chinese market.
In recent years, mounting research into pu-erh tea and its theabrownin has revealed a treasure trove of functional beverage innovation opportunities.
Here are three key reasons this ingredient is causing a major buzz in the industry:
1) Theabrownin can actively lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Theabrownin has been described as a key component in the upcoming RTD Tea 3.0 movement, which essentially sees beverages moving from flavoured teas, to reduced sugar teas and on to active, functional teas.
“Two of the most prized functionalities in food and beverage products is the reduction of sugar and fat/cholesterol in the body, and the fact is that theabrownin has been shown to be able to do both,” said functional ingredient firm Greenxtract Founder Dr Ya Cai – also known in China as the ‘man who has tasted the most teas in the world.
“There are firms in China such as Tasly Great Health Industry which have capitalised on this to develop 降茶, directly translated as ‘Lowering Tea’ in reference to its ability to lower sugar and cholesterol levels.
This product has been doing well locally due to the technology in combination with China’s longstanding tea culture, but Dr Cai believes there is massive potential for this product in any global market where teas with these two functionalities are in demand.
That’s not all – in addition to blood sugar and cholesterol management, theabrownin has also been shown to stimulate the production of multiple beneficial components in the gut, many mechanisms of which have yet to be defined.
2) Theabrownin’s effects are clear, but its mechanisms are not
Although there have been various studies proving the beneficial effects of theabrownin, many of these mechanisms remain a mystery – and this is precisely why many food scientists are keen to crack its code.
“Currently what we do know about how theabrownin works is limited, e.g. that it can lower cholesterol by changing gut bacteria to boost liver activity; and that it alters amylase enzyme activity on glucose absorption so that blood glucose levels drop,” Dr Cai added.
“However, there is still a lot to discover regarding the specific mechanisms, and it is only when these are thoroughly understood that we can unlock theabrownin’s true potential.”
Theabrownin represents a treasure trove of discovery in the world of food science and nutrition, with scientists racing to be the first to reveal its mysteries.
“In the industry, we have a saying that whoever succeeds in working out theabrownin’s functional mechanisms will have made a Nobel Prize-level breakthrough and is in line for the next prize,” he added.
“That said, prize or not, it is clear that more testing and studies need to be conducted on this compound to really understand all its functionalities and how these can be used to meet human needs – this is the way forward.”
3) Understanding theabrownin could unlock understanding of other compounds
Pu-erh tea is currently the most well-understood source of theabrownin, and most studies conducted inevitably involve this tea.
“As health and wellness needs in the community continue to rise, many more functional products and ingredients are emerging, but it is not very common to find holistic products that can target multiple needs,” he added.
“This is why studying theabrownin has such strong potential, because its research is linked to that of pu-erh tea as well – a tea which is well-known to have many beneficial components that due to its fermentation process, which are also not well-understood."
Pu-erh tea contains many types of polyphenols and catechins, depending on its fermentation process. It has been linked to myriad health benefits such as heart health, liver health, digestion, antioxidation, energy boosting, skin care, antibacterial properties and more.
“No disease has only one cause, so oftentimes it can be hard for consumers to identify a holistic product to purchase – but if we can unlock all the benefits of pu-erh tea, there is the very real potential of developing a drink that can provide multiple functional benefits at one shot.”
