What exactly gives strawberries their delicious sweet flavor?  As we have written in previous blogs, our taste perception comes not only from our tongue’s ability to recognize five basic tastes, but also from our sense of smell.

Sweet Scent
An article in Science Daily provides in-depth information about the characteristic aroma of fresh strawberries.  It explains the aroma is a result of a dozen different compounds, with a particular compound, HDMF (also known as Furaneol), playing an important role.

Prof. Wilfried Schwab, head of Biotechnology of Natural Products at TUM, explains, “A ripe strawberry has a particularly high concentration of this compound (HDMF) — up to 50 milligrams per kilo — which lies far above the odor threshold. This compound gives the ripe fruit its characteristic caramel-like aroma.”

Photo courtesy of indervilla.com

Complex Characteristics

While Furaneol, along with about 20 other compounds, plays an important role in producing the distinct flavor of strawberries, there are a number of other compounds that make up our favorite fruit.  In fact, TNO reports more than 330 volatile compounds have been discovered in strawberries.  That’s a lot of flavor!

The research team at TUM concludes that the biochemical processes that produce a strawberry are very complex, even more so than other popular flavors like vanilla.  Christie Harman, FEMA’s Interim Scientific Director, adds, “Part of what makes the flavor industry’s work so exciting is not only the opportunity to enhance flavor offerings in our foods and beverages, but also in helping consumers understand how complex seemingly simple components can be.  For example, people generally assume there is only one compound that creates ‘strawberry flavor’ and are shocked to learn that what we taste is really a mix of hundreds of molecules that create the strawberry flavor so many of us enjoy.”

Did you know strawberries were so complex?  This may explain why they have been one of the world’s most popular flavor throughout the years.  How do you plan to celebrate your love for the berry on National Strawberry Day?

The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (FEMA) was founded in 1909 and is the national association of the U.S. flavor industry.  FEMA’s membership is comprised of flavor manufacturers, flavor users, flavor ingredient suppliers, and others with an interest in the U.S. flavor industry.  The association is committed to ensuring a safe supply of flavor ingredients used in foods and beverages enjoyed by billions of men, women, and children around the world.