biostudies-literatureYe ZEarmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research SystemNational Key Research and Development Program of China102867https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12356019biostudies-literatureUnknown29Drying is key to green tea aroma. Solvent-assisted flavor evaporation-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantitative descriptive analysis were used to characterize the aroma profiles of sun-dried (SD), hot-air-dried (HD), and combination-dried (CD) green tea samples. Sun drying leads to the formation of sweet and floral aromas in green tea, whereas hot-air drying leads to the formation of malty, fatty, and roasted aromas. Gas chromatography-olfactometry and quantitative analysis were used to screen 24 key odorants, with an odor activity value of ≥1, primarily consisting of unsaturated fatty acid degradation products. These products included (<i>Z</i>)-4-heptenal, (<i>E</i>)-2-nonenal, (<i>E</i>,<i>E</i>)-2,4-heptadienal, (<i>E</i>,<i>E</i>)-2,4-decadienal, 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, decFood chemistry: XVolatile metabolomics reveals mechanisms of aroma enhancement in green tea via combination drying.PMC12356019CARS-192021YFD1601102Chen ZZhang JHuang WXu QZhang MNing JZhou HXie SYe ZfalseVolatile metabolomics reveals mechanisms of aroma enhancement in green tea via combination drying.Drying is key to green tea aroma. Solvent-assisted flavor evaporation-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantitative descriptive analysis were used to characterize the aroma profiles of sun-dried (SD), hot-air-dried (HD), and combination-dried (CD) green tea samples. Sun drying leads to the formation of sweet and floral aromas in green tea, whereas hot-air drying leads to the formation of malty, fatty, and roasted aromas. Gas chromatography-olfactometry and quantitative analysis were used to screen 24 key odorants, with an odor activity value of ≥1, primarily consisting of unsaturated fatty acid degradation products. These products included (<i>Z</i>)-4-heptenal, (<i>E</i>)-2-nonenal, (<i>E</i>,<i>E</i>)-2,4-heptadienal, (<i>E</i>,<i>E</i>)-2,4-decadienal, 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, dec2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jul2026-05-04T21:58:14.257Z2026-04-07T21:01:00.05ZS-EPMC123560194082313810.1016/j.fochx.2025.102867