Organic Acid Composition and Flavor Characteristics of Lactic Acid Fermented Cereal Beverages

The effect of different compositions of organic acids on the flavor profile of 10% sugar solution was investigated by the response surface methodology, and the results were used to evaluate the flavor characteristics of lactic acid fermented cereal beverages. A mixture of extruded rice flour (10%) and soymilk (7.8% dry matter) was fermented with Leuconostoc mesenteroides (Sikhae). Depending on the substrate pretreatments, for example, the malt or amylase digestion and the proteolytic enzyme hydrolysis, the sugar and organic acid composition of the product varied. The organic acid composition of the fermented beverages was in the ranges of 0.44-0.55% lactic acid, 0.05-0.09% acetic acid and 0.07-0.09% citric acid, while that of commercial apple juice was 1.59% malic acid and 0.49% acetic acid. The flavor profiles of fermented beverages added with 10% sucrose were compared to those of apple juice and a model mixture containing 0.48% citric acid, 0.39% lactic acid and 0.12% acetic acid in 10% sugar solution. The QDA diagram of fermented beverages approached to that of apple juice, when the substrate was digested by amylase but not by protease.