The Leaf of Caucasian Rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum Pall.) for Receiving a Perspective Raw Material – “Mate” Type Tea

Diagnostic and dimensional characteristics of a Caucasian rhododendron leaves are
investigated in this essay. Under the investigation are flavonoids substances of leaves and
their transformation during vegetation process. It is derived that flavonoids substances
contain the following components - catechins (19,2-36,1 mg / g), leukoanthocyanidins
(164-209 mg / g) and flavonols (15,1-34,0 mg / g).
Character of change flavonoids changing is established like the following: in a flowering
phase (May - June) their general content is slightly reduced (163,6 mg / g), their levels
increas in August (279,1 mg / g) and decrease by the end of vegetation (211,8 mg / g); this
work presents the new method of quantifying definition of arbutin by
photoelectrocolorimetric method, which in comparison with existing (iodmetrical) method is
characterized by expressed higher accuracy of definition (a degree of mistake of definition of
3,4 % against 4,8 % in comparison with an existing method).
Technological parameters of receiving tea product from the leaves of rhododendron are
developed, providing preparation of raw material, cooling, crushing, roasting, thermal
conditioning, repeated crushing and sifting.
It is shown, that the generated tea product differs both from black, and from green teas by
organic characteristics and is more closely related to Paraguayan tea "Маtе". This conclusion
can serve as significant proof for expansion of a raw-material base of tea "Маtе" in
conditions of subtropics of Georgia.