Flavour and off-flavour compounds of black and white pepper (Piper nigrum L.): II. Odour activity values of desirable and undesirable odorants of black pepper

Quantification of 14 odorants and calculation of their odour activity values were the basis of an aroma model reflecting most of the odour notes of black pepper. Omission tests indicated α- and β-pinene, myrcene, α-phellandrene, limonene, linalool, methylpropanal, 2- and 3-methylbutanal, butyric acid and 3-methylbutyric acid as key odorants. A storage experiment revealed that for ground black pepper, losses of α-pinene, limonene and 3-methylbutanal were mainly responsible for deficits in the pepper-like, citrus-like, terpene-like and malty notes after 30 days at room temperature. The musty/mouldy off-flavour of a sample of black pepper was caused by a mixture consisting of 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine (2.9 μg/kg) and 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (0.2 μg/kg). © Springer-Verlag 1999.