Natural and synthetic flavor components

Flavorings are compound, natural or synthetic, that are added to foods to produce flavors or to modify existing flavors. Food flavoring substances are a unique class of food ingredients being an essential element in practically all foodstuffs whether prepared fresh or processed for sale in the marketplace.

Essential oils form a major source of flavorings. Essential oils are odorous components of plants and plant materials that are characteristics odors of the material from which they are extracted. Because of the large production of orange juice, quality of essential oil of orange are produced as by products.

Normally, the scientist creates imitation flavors by using chemicals whose odor and flavor are reminiscent of the natural flavor to be imitated.

Synthetic flavor are produced synthetically but are not present in a natural flavoring material.

A typical synthetic flavor is a very complex mixture of substances. Synthetic flavorings are usually less expensive and more plentiful than natural flavorings. On the other hand, natural flavorings are often more acceptable. However, they are quite complex and difficult to reproduce synthetically.

In fact, one of the problems with natural flavorings is that they may vary according to their season and their uncontrollable variance.

Synthetic flavor compounds have a great advantage of being available in the required quantity and quality irrespective of crop variation and season.

Synthetic flavorings, however, can be reproduced quite accurately, many artificial flavors, such as amyl acetate (artificial banana flavor), benzaldehyde (artificial cherry flavor), and ethyl caproate (artificial pineapple flavor), are added to confectionaries, basked products, soft drinks, and ice cream. These flavorings are added in concentrations of 0.03% or less.

A constant quality permits standardization on the flavorings.

Sir William Perkin in 1868 began marketed coumarin as the first synthetic perfume, making the beginning of the artificial perfume industry.

Coumarin has a flavor very similar to that of vanilla, and for many years it was popular as the first synthetic food flavoring.
Natural and synthetic flavor components