Diversity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Involved in the Fermentation of Awa-bancha

The lactic acid bacteria involved in fermentation and components in the tea leaves of Awa-bancha, a post-fermented tea produced in Naka, Kamikatsu, and Miyoshi, Tokushima, were investigated in the present study. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from tea leaves after anaerobic fermentation and identified by multiplex PCR targeting of the recA gene and 16S ribosomal RNA gene homology. Lactiplantibacillus pentosus was the most frequently isolated species in Naka and Kamikatsu and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Miyoshi. In the phylogenetic tree based on the dnaK gene, L. pentosus isolated from Awa-bancha was roughly grouped by the production area and producer. The bacterial flora after anaerobic fermentation was dominated by Lactiplantibacillus spp. for most producers, and the compositions of samples from each producer varied. Organic acids, free amino acids, and catechins were analyzed as components related to the flavor of Awa-bancha. These components were unique to each producer. The present results revealed diversity in the lactic acid bacteria and flavor of Awa-bancha that depended on the producer.