The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Tetragenococcus halophilus addition on the quality of Chinese Horsebean-Chili-Paste (CHCP). T. halophilus SZ-B-2 isolated from soy sauce moromi was identified based on physiological tests, carbon substrate utilization patterns (Biolog) and the 16S rDNA sequence and deposited as T. halophilus CGMCC 3792. The strain SZ-B-2 can grow at 25% NaCl and exhibited relatively broad ranges of pH. The potential of T. halophilus as a starter culture for quality improvement in CHCP fermentation was elucidated. As a result, T. halophilus inoculated sample exhibited higher total titratable acid, formol nitrogen and reducing sugar contents compared with the control. In addition, the addition of T. halophilus decreased the content of nitrite by 39.4%. Major volatile compounds were 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 1,2-propanediol, ethyl 9,12-octadecadienoate, ethyl 9-hexadecenoate. The inoculated sample showed higher contents of volatile compounds including acids, alcohols, esters and aromatic compounds. Thus, T. halophilus addition may promote the formation of desirable odor and improve the flavor of CHCP.Keywords: Tetragenococcus halophilus, Chinese horsebean-chili-paste, nitrite, volatile compounds *To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: zhourqing@scu.edu.cn
IntroductionChinese horsebean-chili-paste (CHCP, also called as Doubanjiang) is a traditionally fermented condiment. The manufacture process of CHCP includes three phases: koji manufacturing, horsebean grain as well as smashed chili fermentation and ripening of horsebean-chili mixture. For the first phase, the shelled horsebean was soaked in boiled water for less than 3 min, and then the horsebean was cooled and mixed with raw wheat powder (horse bean : raw wheat powder 4:1, w/w) to make koji. In the second phase, the koji was mixed with brine (1:1) to create a mixture known as horsebean grain, and the horsebean grain fermentation was conducted for more than 8 months under room temperature. The fresh chili was chopped and mixed with salt (13 − 15% of chili weight) and subsequently, fermented for more than 3 months at ambient temperature to yield chili moromi. In the third phase, horsebean grain and chili moromi were mixed at the ratio of 3:7 (called as initial Jiang pei or paste), and the mixture was ripened in exposure environment at day and light for more than 18 months. The distinct technique during the whole manufacture process contributes to the particular flavor, and the CHCP is recognized as "the soul of Sichuan dishes". Recently, CHCP is gaining increasing interest due to its characteristic flavor and promising market. Traditionally, the production of CHCP solely relies on the natural fermentation process, which leads to the control of the physiochemical and flavor quality rather limited. In addition, the long period of fermentation also limited the development of CHCP industries. The use of starter culture has been reported to improve the quality of many fermented foods as well as shorten the fermentatio...