The
aroma of aged garlic extract (AGE) has been recently characterized
as a complexity of seasoning-like, metallic, fatty, and acidic notes;
most of the important aroma compounds were identified in a previous
study. Besides the 25 previously identified aromas of AGE, several
of the odor compounds that contribute to the acidic notes were isolated
and identified using various analytical techniques, including gas
chromatography coupled with an olfactometry monitoring system (GC–O),
accurate and high-performance preparative GC system, GC–MS
analysis, and sensory evaluation. The identified aromas include: 2,4-dimethyl-1,3-dithiolane,
2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dithiane, and 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dithiane. Interestingly,
AGE contains all stereoscopic isomers of each of these components.
An aroma recombinant composed of the newly identified acidic odors
with other key odorants showed good agreement with the aroma of AGE.