Mineral infusion and in-vitro bioaccessibility in Camellia sinensis and herbal tea: influence of matrix and brewing format

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of mineral composition, time-dependent mineral infusion (5, 10, and 15 min), and in-vitro bioaccessibility across six widely consumed teas, including four Camellia sinensis varieties (black, green, white, and Ceylon) and two herbal teas (rosehip and fennel). Elemental concentrations were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). An in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion model was employed to determine mineral bioaccessibility, while FT-IR spectral characterization was used to interpret the matrix-related chemical structures influencing solubility and mineral stability. The results indicated that potassium was the most efficiently released element (>50%), followed by magnesium and sodium, whereas calcium and iron exhibited limited dialyzability (