Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Cheng-Hsiang Tsai, Tsung-Ren Peng, Tsang-Sen Liu*, Yu-Wen Lin, and Wen-Jun Zhan

Abstract:

This study analyzed the amounts of various elements of tea samples and applied principal component analysis (PCA) to process the elemental data to differentiate imported tea from Taiwan tea.The imported samples included tea made from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Sri Lanka, and the analyzed elements were classified into trace elements (Ag, As, B, Ba, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga,Ge, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, Ti, V, W, Zn, and Zr), weathering elements (Al, Fe, and Mn), and fertilizer elements (Ca, K, Mg, P, and S). Our results showed that no single element could be used as an index to distinguish imported tea from Taiwan tea; however, PCA analyses showed differences between domestic and imported tea. Four data sets included trace elements (T), trace elements and weathering elements (TW), trace elements and fertilizer elements (TF), and all analyzed elements (A) were used for PCA. The results revealed that, besides TF, the remaining data sets could differentiate imported tea from Taiwan tea. Data processing experience and the results derived from this study provide an important reference for subsequent identification of the origin of other agricultural products.

Key words:Elemental concentration, Identify non-Taiwan tea, Principal component analysis (PCA)

Download: PDF Links