Abstract

JERKE, Gladis; BARGARDI, Severino; MEDVEDEFF, Martha G.  and  GONZALES SUAREZ, Erenio. Microbiological quality of black tea in two commercial forms: in strands and in teabags. Rev. cienc. tecnol. [online]. 2009, n.12, pp.52-57. ISSN 1851-7587.

The aim of our study was to determine the microbiological quality of black tea sold in strands (BTS) and in teabags (BTB) in Posadas, Misiones. A hundred samples were studied: 25 of BTS and 75 of BTB. The presence of fungi and yeasts (RHL), total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (BAMT), total coliforms (RCT), fecal coliforms (RCF) and Escherichia coli was evaluated. Results of medians and averages in BTS were: RHL 400/738 uFC/g; BAMT 550/763 uFC/g, RCT 23/376 MPN/g, RCF <3/<3 MPN/g respectively and absence of Escherichia coli were found. For BTB, values were: RHL 885/2149 uFC/g, BAMT 1300/4044 uFC/g, RCT 93/317 MPN/g, RCF <3/22 MPN/g, respectively and absence of Escherichia coli were found. The counts of RHL, BAMT and RCT were higher for BTB. Escherichia coli was not detected in any of the samples analyzed. Some samples exceeded the levels allowed, marking the importance of periodic microbiological monitoring for black tea.

Keywords : Microbiological quality; Black tea; Tea bags; Tea threads.

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