The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of packaging and time factors in color change and degradation of chlorophyll during storage of mate, mate type, in environmental conditions. Samples of mate, packaged in laminated flexible film or paper, were placed in a storage chamber, and analyzed at seven periods, during 12 weeks. Chlorophyll (a, b and total), instrumental color (CIELAB), moisture and water activity were determined. In the analysis of chlorophyllian pigments, it was verified their degradation in the samples packaged in laminated film (a reduction of 59.5% in chlorophyll a and 28.0% in chlorophyll b), and controversial results were found in the samples on paper package. This result probably suffered the interference of Maillard reaction. The mate color changes during storage were: L* reduction in the samples on paper package (from 49.3 to 48.1) and L* increase in the samples on laminated package (from 49.3 to 51.5); -a* reduction and b* reduction in the product on both packages, paper (a*=from -13.2 to -5.9; b*=from 29.3 to 28.5) and laminated film (a*=from -13.3 to -7.0; b*=from 29.5 to 24.9). It was concluded that the storage time and the kind of package significantly influenced (P<0.05) the items analized and that the color change was probably influenced by pheophytinization as well as by oxidation of chlorophyllian pigments in mate.
mate; package; storage; color
