Characterization of odor profiles of pea milk varieties and identification of key odor-active compounds by molecular sensory science approaches using soybean milk as a reference

Food Chem. 2024 Jul 1:445:138696. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138696. Epub 2024 Feb 9.

Abstract

This study investigated the odor profiles of four pea milk varieties based on sensory evaluation, electronic nose (E-nose), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with soybean milk as a reference. Compared to soybean milk, pea milk exhibited lower intensity of beany, oil-oxidation, and mushroom flavors as well as higher intensity of grassy/green and earthy flavors. ZW.6 pea milk was selected for further identification of key odor-active compounds using molecular sensory science approaches. Using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE), and dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) combined with comprehensive gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC × GC-O-MS), 102 odor-active compounds were detected in ZW.6 pea milk. Among these, 19 compounds exhibiting high flavor dilution (FD) factors were accurately quantitated. Ten key odor-active compounds were ultimately identified through aroma recombination and omission experiment. Aldehydes and alcohols significantly contribute to the odor profile of pea milk.

Keywords: Aroma extraction dilution analysis; Aroma recombination; GC × GC-O-MS; Omission experiments; Pisum sativum L.; Sensory.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Flavoring Agents / analysis
  • Glycine max
  • Milk / chemistry
  • Odorants* / analysis
  • Olfactometry / methods
  • Pisum sativum
  • Volatile Organic Compounds* / analysis

Substances

  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Flavoring Agents