Nerolidol　is　an　important　volatile　compound　found　in　tea　aroma,　consumption　of　which　has　been　associated　with　good　health.　A　novel　approach　for　the　quantitative　determination　of　nerolidol　in　teas　has　been　developed　using　a　headspace　solid　phase　microextraction　(HS-SPME)　and　a　gas　chromatography-flame　ionization　detector　(GC-FID).　The　experimental　parameters　relating　to　the　extraction　efficiency　of　the　HS-SPME　such　as　fibre　types,　extraction　temperature,　extraction　time,　stirring　rate　were　investigated　and　optimized.　The　study　results　demonstrated　that　combining　GC-FID　with　HS-SPME　was　an　efficient　and　flexible　extraction　approach　for　the　analysis　of　nerolidol　in　teas.　Using　the　HS-SPME-GC-FID,　the　linear　range　of　the　determination　of　nerolidol　was　found　to　be　2.7-1360　ng　g-1　and　the　limit　of　detection　was　0.3　ng　g　-1.　The　average　recoveries　were　in　the　range　78.7-106%　in　spiked　tea　samples.　In　addition,　the　generation　and　the　content　change　in　nerolidol　at　different　manufacturing　stages　were　investigated.　Based　on　the　content　of　nerolidol　in　Oolong　tea　samples,　grade　judgment　for　the　various　teas　was　performed.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.