Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Tea Aroma Analysis Based on Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation Enrichment
Published on: May 26, 2023
Decoding the honey-like aroma formation in Chinese rice-flavor baijiu via key aroma compounds and their perceptual
Peiqi Li1, Kaijun Xie1, Yufeng Feng1
1Laboratory of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science & Technology, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Ave, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
The honey-like aroma is a defining characteristic of Chinese rice-flavor Baijiu, but its molecular basis remains unclear. This study employed a sensomics approach, integrated with perceptual interaction tests, to investigate the formation of this characteristic. Using gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry (GC-O/MS), a total of 66 odor-active compounds were characterized and subsequently quantified by GC-MS and GC-MS/MS. Among these, 15 compounds were newly identified in rice-flavor Baijiu. Aroma recombination and omission experiments validated 12 key aroma compounds, with phenylethyl alcohol, phenylacetaldehyde, and sotolon emerging as the essential contributors to the honey-like aroma attribute. Addition tests revealed a synergistic effect between sotolon and phenylethyl alcohol, reducing the theoretical detection threshold by 54.14% and enhancing honey-like perception. Raman spectroscopy showed that these compounds self-assemble via hydrogen bonding to form 2-HB·H₂O structures with higher bond energy, reducing free water in the system. This study reveals the molecular basis of the honey-like aroma and provides new indicators for process optimization and quality control.
Related Concept Videos
Gustation
Taste Buds and Receptors
Olfaction
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The Physiology of Taste
Aromatic Compounds: Overview
In 1825, Faraday isolated benzene...
¹H NMR Signal Integration: Overview

