Key odorants of Oscypek, a traditional Polish ewe's milk cheese

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 May 11;59(9):4932-7. doi: 10.1021/jf2002602. Epub 2011 Apr 12.

Abstract

The unique flavor of Oscypek, a Polish ewe's milk smoked cheese, is described as slightly sour, piquant, salted, and smoked. In this paper with the application of gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and combination of aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) 20 potent odorants of this cheese have been identified within the flavor dilution factor (FD) range of 4-2048. Among them, 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol, and butanoic acid showed the highest FD factors. Quantification results based on labeled standard addition followed by calculation of odor activity values (OAV) of 13 compounds with the highest FD factors revealed that 11 compounds were present at concentrations above their odor threshold values and therefore mostly contribute to the overall aroma of smoked ewe's milk cheese. Six of those compounds were represented by phenolic derivatives, with the highest OAV for 2-methoxyphenol (1280). Analysis of key odorants of an unsmoked cheese sample showed that the smoking process had a fundamental influence on Oscypek aroma formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cheese / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Odorants / analysis*
  • Poland
  • Smell
  • Taste