Refreshing is a multidimensional concept for the response to a food consumption experience, especially for drinks. The consumer has daily needs for refreshing; however, the perception of refreshing and the associated food sensory quality and molecule composition are underexplored. This study aimed to (1) use a consumer study to evaluate the refreshing perception of eight cucumber varieties, (2) identify volatile aroma and nonvolatile taste compounds in cucumber with instrumental analysis, and (3) explore the potential correlation between refreshing perception and aroma- and taste-related compounds using statistical analysis. The cucumber consumer study (n = 103) showed that cucumbers were perceived as refreshing in general (intensities 3.3–5.4, 0–10 line scale). The analysis of volatiles with solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) identified 155 volatiles. Aldehydes and alcohols were the most dominant, accounting for 25.5%–77.9% and 15.0%–58.1%, respectively. Soluble solids and three organic acids were quantified in the eight cucumber varieties using a refractometer and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Cucumber variety differences in these variables (volatiles, organic acids, and soluble solids) were significant (p ≤ 0.05). Compounds associated with refreshing perception were investigated using partial least-squares (PLS) regression, and refreshing perception was highly correlated with aldehydes (mainly C6 and C9 aldehydes), organic acid, and soluble solids. The findings would bring in a new potential use of cucumber, especially when the food industry is interested in developing products perceived as refreshing with natural flavorings.

Mushrooms contain a remarkable amount of complete protein, indicating potential as a conventional protein alternative. Commercially available mushroom powder would be protein concentrate and isolate starting material, while valorizing all powder molecules is sustainable and economical. This study aimed to quantify taste-related compounds (five soluble sugars, five organic acids, and five 5′-nucleotides), 23 free amino acids, protein, and other proximate compositions in two A. bisporus mushroom powders. The most dominant sugar was mannitol (5.6 and 6.9% dry matter), followed by glucose and sucrose. The major acid was oxalic acid (0.30 and 0.48%), followed by acetic and malic. Among five nucleotides, 5′-GMP (umami taste, 0.08 and 0.11%) was predominant. Total free amino acids were 4.0 and 6.5%, of which Glu (umami taste, 1.1 and 1.4%) was dominant. Asp (umami taste, 0.27 and 0.67%) was lower. The mushroom powders contained all essential and sweet- and bitter-related amino acids along with around 20% protein; the protein included at least six different fractions per SDS-PAGE. The powders were also majorly comprised of carbohydrates, especially fiber. These results demonstrated taste-related compounds and the nutritional composition in mushroom powders, providing evidence for mushroom powder use as a starting material to develop mushroom protein concentrates and isolates.