Overview of Eurotium cristatum and its Fermentation Application in Tea

Eurotium cristatum (E. cristatum), commonly known as "golden flower", is the dominant strain in the microbial fermentation process of Fu brick tea. E. cristatum has favorable biological characteristics, including enzyme production, antimicrobial properties, immune regulation, antitumor properties, fat reduction capabilities, and weight loss benefits. With its probiotic characteristics, E. cristatum can be combined with different varieties of tea substrates to make a variety of fermented teas. More importantly, in the process of tea fermentation, E. cristatum can secrete a variety of extracellular enzymes, including some hydrolytic enzymes and oxidoreductases. They metabolize and transform various chemical components in tea through a series of reactions such as oxidation, degradation, and condensation, which significantly affect the quality of tea. In this review, by summarizing its basic functional characteristics as well as its application in fermented tea, an in-depth analysis of the key problems existing in the fermentation application of E. cristatum is described and some beneficial suggestions are presented in order to provide a rich theoretical basis for the development and utilization of E. cristatum to a greater extent.