A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia

The <i>soju</i> (Korean traditional distilled liquor) market is increasing worldwide. However, in contrast to well-explored distilled liquors, including <i>baijiu</i> (China) and <i>shochu</i> (Japan), <i>soju</i> is less investigated, with limited res...

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Main Authors: In-Seo Hwang, Chan-Woo Kim, Bo Ram Kim, Bo-Ra Lim, Ji-Ho Choi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3368
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author In-Seo Hwang
Chan-Woo Kim
Bo Ram Kim
Bo-Ra Lim
Ji-Ho Choi
author_facet In-Seo Hwang
Chan-Woo Kim
Bo Ram Kim
Bo-Ra Lim
Ji-Ho Choi
author_sort In-Seo Hwang
collection DOAJ
description The <i>soju</i> (Korean traditional distilled liquor) market is increasing worldwide. However, in contrast to well-explored distilled liquors, including <i>baijiu</i> (China) and <i>shochu</i> (Japan), <i>soju</i> is less investigated, with limited research on its aroma characteristics. To facilitate better understanding of the aroma characteristics of <i>soju</i>, this study aims to overview recent research on the flavor characteristics of <i>soju</i> and compare data with those of <i>baijiu</i> and <i>shochu</i>, well-established products in the market. <i>Soju</i> is generally made using rice and <i>nuruk</i> (a traditional Korean fermentation starter). Previous studies have reflected that the aroma characteristics vary with raw materials’ nutrition percentages, microbial taxa influenced in fermentation starters, and/or pressure reduction during distillation. The research on the aroma characteristics of <i>baijiu</i>, characterized by solid-state fermentation involving <i>qu</i> (a traditional Chinese fermentation starter), is focused on differences in regional characteristics of the flavor type. Research on the aroma characteristics of <i>shochu</i> has primarily demonstrated that the microbial community could contribute significantly to the development of specific aromatic compounds and/or attributes. Moreover, the association of the aroma characteristics of <i>baijiu</i> and <i>shochu</i> with their volatile compound development by the determination of selective ingredients has been examined. Understanding the current research progress can potentially facilitate the improvement in the aroma characteristics of <i>soju</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-48d67ffa738e426f8bcc890e456369422024-11-08T14:36:02ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-10-011321336810.3390/foods13213368A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern AsiaIn-Seo Hwang0Chan-Woo Kim1Bo Ram Kim2Bo-Ra Lim3Ji-Ho Choi4Fermented Food Science Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Republic of KoreaFermented Food Science Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Republic of KoreaFermented Food Science Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Republic of KoreaFermented Food Science Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Republic of KoreaFermented Food Science Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Republic of KoreaThe <i>soju</i> (Korean traditional distilled liquor) market is increasing worldwide. However, in contrast to well-explored distilled liquors, including <i>baijiu</i> (China) and <i>shochu</i> (Japan), <i>soju</i> is less investigated, with limited research on its aroma characteristics. To facilitate better understanding of the aroma characteristics of <i>soju</i>, this study aims to overview recent research on the flavor characteristics of <i>soju</i> and compare data with those of <i>baijiu</i> and <i>shochu</i>, well-established products in the market. <i>Soju</i> is generally made using rice and <i>nuruk</i> (a traditional Korean fermentation starter). Previous studies have reflected that the aroma characteristics vary with raw materials’ nutrition percentages, microbial taxa influenced in fermentation starters, and/or pressure reduction during distillation. The research on the aroma characteristics of <i>baijiu</i>, characterized by solid-state fermentation involving <i>qu</i> (a traditional Chinese fermentation starter), is focused on differences in regional characteristics of the flavor type. Research on the aroma characteristics of <i>shochu</i> has primarily demonstrated that the microbial community could contribute significantly to the development of specific aromatic compounds and/or attributes. Moreover, the association of the aroma characteristics of <i>baijiu</i> and <i>shochu</i> with their volatile compound development by the determination of selective ingredients has been examined. Understanding the current research progress can potentially facilitate the improvement in the aroma characteristics of <i>soju</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3368<i>soju</i><i>baijiu</i><i>shochu</i>aroma characteristicsraw materialsfermentation starter
spellingShingle In-Seo Hwang
Chan-Woo Kim
Bo Ram Kim
Bo-Ra Lim
Ji-Ho Choi
A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia
Foods
<i>soju</i>
<i>baijiu</i>
<i>shochu</i>
aroma characteristics
raw materials
fermentation starter
title A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia
title_full A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia
title_fullStr A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia
title_full_unstemmed A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia
title_short A Comparative Analysis of Aroma Profiles of <i>Soju</i> and Other Distilled Spirits from Northeastern Asia
title_sort comparative analysis of aroma profiles of i soju i and other distilled spirits from northeastern asia
topic <i>soju</i>
<i>baijiu</i>
<i>shochu</i>
aroma characteristics
raw materials
fermentation starter
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3368
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