Flavor chemistry

Characteristic Flavor of Traditional Soup Made by Stewing Chinese Yellow-Feather Chickens

The traditional recipe for Chinese chicken soup creates a popular taste of particular umami and aroma. The present study investigated the effects of stewing time (1, 2, and 3 h) on the principal taste-active and volatile compounds and the overall flavor profile of traditional Chinese chicken soup by measuring the contents of free amino acids (FAAs), 5'-nucleotides, minerals and volatile compounds and by evaluating the taste and aroma profiles using an electronic nose, an electronic tongue and a human panel. Results showed that the major umami-related compounds in the chicken soup were inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and chloride, both of which increased significantly (P < 0.05) during stewing. The taste active values (TAVs) of the equivalent umami concentration (EUC) increased from 4.08 to 9.93 (P < 0.05) after stewing for 3 h. Although the FAA and mineral contents increased significantly (P < 0.05), their TAVs were less than 1. The volatile compounds were mainly hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, (E)-2-nonanal, (E)-2-decenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 1-hexanol, and 2-pentyl furan. With the prolonged stewing time, the aldehydes first increased and then decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while 1-hexanol and 2-pentyl furan increased steadily (P < 0.05). The aroma scores of the chicken soup reached the maximum after stewing for 3 h. The discrepancy in overall flavor characteristics tended to stabilize after 2 h of stewing. In general, stewing time has a positive effect on improving the flavor profiles of chicken soup, especially within the first 2 h.

Liquid chromatography with accurate mass measurement on a triple quadrupole mass-spectrometer for the identification and quantification ofN-lactoyl ethanolamine in wine

In this study a specific taste-modulating flavor ingredient, N-lactoyl ethanolamine, was determined in two Beerenauslese wines using preparative LC, as a first isolation and concentration step, followed by LC-MS/MS on a triple quadrupole in accurate mass (AM) mode. The accurate masses of the analyte and three characteristic fragments were determined with mass accuracies between 8 and 20 ppm. N-lactoyl ethanolamine concentrations in the wines were 0.4 and 2.5 mg/L.

Artifacts and contaminants in the analysis of food flavor

The qualitative and quantitative complexity of food flavor makes its complete analysis rather difficult, involving a series of necessary successive steps, from the transport of the samples to the laboratory to the final quantification of the volatiles in the extract. However, because of the minute amounts of most odorous substances in food, these numerous manipulations of the sample are often the cause of alterations of the flavor, and complementary techniques are generally recommended to get a clear idea of its original composition. Arguments and clues, from 95 publications dealing with the analysis of various types of food, demonstrating that some of the volatile substances finally identified could have been in fact contaminants or artifacts arising from the analysis itself are presented. For practical reasons, the logical sequence of treatments successively applied to the sample throughout the flavor analysis is adopted.

Volatiles from interactions of Maillard reactions and lipids

This article provides current information on the production of volatile compounds from interactions of Maillard reactions and lipids. It includes a brief introduction outlining the Maillard reactions, the Strecker degradation of amino acids, and the oxidation of lipids. It highlights those compounds derived from these reactions that could interact to form volatile flavor components during the processing or cooking of food. The article discusses results obtained from model systems involving interactions between (1) Maillard reaction products and carbonyl compounds, (2) amino acids and carbonyl compounds, (3) amino acids and derivatives of fatty acids, and (4) Maillard reaction products, triglycerides and phospholipids. The qualitative and quantitative effects that triglycerides and phospholipids have on the formation of volatile Maillard products are also discussed. Particular attention is given to those long-chain alkyl heterocyclic compounds formed during these reactions, proposed methods for their formation, and their aromas. The role that such compounds play in food flavors is discussed with reference to those volatile compounds identified in certain cooked foods, such as meat (beef, lamb, and pork), chicken, potatoes (baked, French-fried, and crisps), and beverages (coffee, tea, and cocoa).