Sensory Evaluation of Bidara Leaves (Tea) Infusion (Ziziphus mauritiana)

Abstract

Herbal infusion is a caffeine-free drink with potential health benefits, made by steeping plant materials in hot water. Ziziphus mauritiana (bidara) is a medicinal plant valued for its antioxidant and therapeutic properties, with its leaves rich in compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols. With growing interest in natural beverages, scientific studies are needed to validate the health claims of bidara leaves infusion. This study aims to evaluate the sensory evaluation of bidara leaf tea infusion varying in their maturity stage (shoot and matured leaves) and the processing method of the leaves. The sensory evaluation conducted suggest that processed matured bidara leaves infusion is the most accepted compared to other samples as its score for most attributes such as colour (6.68), mouthfeel (5.18), earthy (5.68), and overall acceptability (5.29) is the highest compared to other samples.