Hay-like off-flavour of dry parsley

Abstract

The flavour of parsley was found to change during drying and storage. Quantification of 27 potent odorants, selected by dilution experiments and calculation of odour activity values, indicated that 3-methyl-2,4-nonanedione was mainly responsible for the hay-like off-flavour. Two furanoid fatty acids, known to be precursors of 3-methyl-2,4-nonanedione, were detected in dry parsley. The decrease in the intensities of the parsley-like, metallic and green notes in the odour profile during storage of dry parsley was due to losses of p-mentha-1,3,8-triene, myrcene and (Z)-6-decenal. Sulphurous cabbage-like and malty notes were caused by dimethyl sulphide, methylpropanal as well as 2- and 3-methylbutanal. The effect of the water activity (at a w levels of 0.15, 0.25, 0.35) on the changes in the concentrations of all these compounds during storage of dry parsley was investigated.