Cheese flavour organic acids

The taste of cheese is concentrated in the water-soluble fraction (peptides, amino acids, organic acids, amines, NaCl) while the aroma is mainly in the volatile fraction. Initially, it was believed that cheese flavour was due to one... 

Volatile fungal metabolites contribute to the organoleptic properties of several other foodstuffs. Surface mould ripened cheeses such as Brie and Camembert are produced using Penicillium camembertii and, more commonly, P. caseicolum. Oct-l-en-3-ol accompanied by smaller amounts of octa-l,5-dien-3-ol and 3-one are major contributors to the aroma. These organisms also have the ability to produce 2-alkanones from fatty acids and these contribute to the odour of the cheese. 2-Methylisoborneol (7.70) and 2-methoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine (7.71) have been detected in mature cultures. An unpleasant earthy flavour encountered in some aged cultures has been attributed to the excessive produetion of 7.71. 

Proteolytic enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes produced by starter organisms usually play a key role in the degradation of milk caseins to oligopeptides, smaller peptides and amino acids in fermented dairy products and cheese. Besides being necessary for normal growth of lactococci in milk, this degradation of proteins is important for the development of flavour and texture in cheese. 

---