QUALITY OF KOREAN GINSENG DRIED WITH A PROTOTYPE CONTINUOUS FLOW DRYER USING FAR INFRARED RAY AND HEATED-AIR

This study was performed to examine the effects of infrared (IR)/heated-air combination drying on some quality attributes of Korean white ginsengs. Ginseng roots were dried in a dryer where both the far infrared ray and heated-air are available as drying energy sources. Diametral shrinkage, external color, total saponin content, and ginsenosides and free sugar composition of the IR/heated-air combination dried ginsengs were measured and compared with those of commercial white ginseng products. The external color became lower in lightness and higher in saturation as the IR radiating plate temperature increased. IR/heated-air combination dried white ginsengs at IR plate temperature of 100$^{\circ}C$ was comparable to the commercial white ginseng products in color characteristics. Diametral shrinkage ratios ranged from 20 to 36% and appeared to be independent on the different drying methods. No definite evidence could be found whether the IR/heated-air combination drying and the conventional. hot-air drying practice resulted in white ginsengs having different ginsenoside contents and compositions. No conclusion could be made on whether the various drying treatments used in the study had effects on the free sugar contents and compositions of white ginsengs.