Quantification and odor contribution of 2-furanmethanethiol in different types of fermented soybean paste miso

2-Furanmethanethiol, a compound contained in many kinds of food, was identified for the first time in five types of miso fermented soybean paste (red salty rice miso, thin-colored salty rice miso, weak salty rice miso, barley miso, and soy miso) by specific extraction of volatile thiols using p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. In the triangle test with red salty rice miso, which included a higher concentration of 2-furanmethanethiol, and thin-colored salty rice miso, which included a lower concentration of 2-furanmethanethiol, it was shown that the aroma of thin-colored salty rice miso was similar to that of red salty rice miso by adding 2-furanmethanethiol into thin-colored salty rice miso. In addition, a quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) clearly shows that 2-furanmethanethiol contributed to the intensity of three odor qualities "thick, complex", "sweet", and "pleasant aroma like coffee beans" in six odor qualities and was a very important component of miso aroma.