Flavor Chemistry of Virgin Olive Oil: An Overview

Virgin olive oil (VOO) has unique chemical characteristics among all other vegetable oils which are of paramount importance for human health. VOO constituents are also responsible of its peculiar flavor, a complex sensation due to a combination of aroma, taste, texture, and mouthfeel or trigeminal sensations. VOO flavor depends primarily on the concentration and nature of volatile and phenolic compounds present in olive oil which can change dramatically depending on agronomical and technological factors. Another aspect that can change the flavor perception is linked to the oral process during olive oil tasting. In fact, in this case, some human physiological and matrix effects modulate the flavor release in the mouth. The present review aims to give an overview on VOO flavor, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms affecting its production and release during a tasting.

Effect of Dextrose Equivalent on Maltodextrin/Whey Protein Spray-Dried Powder Microcapsules and Dynamic Release of Loaded Flavor during Storage and Powder Rehydration

The preparation of powdered microcapsules of flavor substances should not only protect these substances from volatilization during storage but also improve their diffusion during use. This study aimed to investigate the effects of maltodextrin (MD) with different dextrose equivalent (DE) values on retention of flavor substances during storage, and the dynamic release of flavor substances during dissolution. MDs with three different DE values and whey protein isolate were mixed in a ratio of 4:1 as wall materials to encapsulate ethyl acetate, and powdered microcapsules were prepared by spray drying. It was proved that MD could reduce the diffusion of flavor substances under different relative humidity conditions through the interaction between core material and wall material. During dissolution, MD released flavor substances quickly owing to its superior solubility. The reconstituted emulsion formed after the powder dissolved in water recaptured flavor substances and made the system reach equilibrium. This study explored the mechanism of flavor release during the storage and dissolution of powder microcapsules and should help us understand the application of powder microcapsules in food systems.

Yağ İçeriği Azaltılmış Sütlü Tatlılarda Aroma Salınımı ve Reolojik Özelliklerin İncelenmesi

Dairy desserts, which have an important place in Turkish cuisine, are mild, more digestible and have high nutritional value than dough and syrup desserts. In recent years, studies for developing these products have increased due to the increase in consumer demand for low and zero fat products for many different reasons such as nutrition, health and weight control. However, the reduction of fat in food products often leads to undesirable changes in the structural properties of foods, which affects consumer preference. Fat in the formulation of such products, affects the appearance, texture, mouthfeel, and especially flavor. To eliminate the problems associated with the reduction of fat content in foods, whey protein-pectin complexes, λ-carrageenan, κ-carrageenan, short and long chain inulin mixtures, starch substitutes are generally used. Changes in fat content of dairy desserts with the use of substitutes affect color, rheology, texture, sensory perception, aroma release and perception. Milk fat content is effective on sensory detection, in vivo flavor and flavor release in semi-solid dairy desserts. The milk fat content (whole-fat, low-fat or non-fat) used in the production of dairy dessert affects the rheological and sensory properties of the product, the taste intensity perceived in the mouth, flavor release, flow behavior, flavor and viscoelastic properties. According to the reviewed literature, in dairy desserts with reduced fat content, the thickener type and concentration (starch, κ-carrageenan, carboxymethyl cellulose) have been determined to cause perceptible changes in the product’s color, flavor and texture, and may alter the physical and structural properties of the product. In this review, it was aimed to examine the aroma release and rheological properties of dairy desserts with reduced fat content by using fat substitutes.

Flavor Release from Spray-Dried Powders with Various Wall Materials

By using the ramping method for humidity at a constant temperature, the release rates of d-limonene were investigated from spray-dried powders with various wall materials, such as maltodextrin (MD) (dextrose equivalent (DE) = 25 and 19), lactose (Lac), and sucrose (Suc). Spray-dried powders, which were sieved to the average powder size of 107–140 µm, contained d-limonene at about 90–97 mg/g-dry powder. d-limonene release profile was measured using a dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) system coupled gas chromatography at 30, 40, and 50 °C from 10% to 90% relative humidity (RH). The linear correlation was found between the release start humidity, sRH, of d-limonene release from the powder and the glass transition temperature of wall materials. The release rates for Suc and Lac increased rapidly at certain humidities and became the maximum rates. Then, these rates decreased gradually with increasing RH. This might have been due to the powder aggregation for Suc and to crystallization for Lac. The release behaviors significantly depended on the wall materials.