Aromatic Ingredients and Distinct Flavors of the Koguma-Soju Produced from Korean Sweet Potato Varieties Yeonmi, Jeungmi, Shincheonmi, and Shinyeulmi

Four varieties of the Korean sweet potato, Yeonmi, Jeungmi, Shincheonmi, and Shinyeulmi, were chosen to prepare the distilled koguma-soju (sweet potato-soju). The relationship between the flavor of the koguma-soju and the content of monoterpene alcohols (MTAs) was studied. The MTAs investigated here were linalool, nerol, geraniol, citronellol, and ${\alpha}$-terpineol. The ranges of MTA concentrations in the koguma-soju made from the four sweet potato varieties were $14.0-16.6{\mu}g/L$ for nerol, $24.8-34.7{\mu}g/L$ for linalool, $32.8-38.5{\mu}g/L$ for geraniol, $37.8-54.2{\mu}g/L$ for citronellol, and $76.6-94.7{\mu}g/L$ for ${\alpha}$-terpineol. Geraniol, nerol, and linalool were found in lower concentrations, while ${\alpha}$-terpineol was present in a higher concentration compared to their average content in the imo-shochu, a distilled Japanese sweet potato-soju. The concentrations of citronellol in the koguma-soju and imo-shochu were similar. The flavor evaluation tests revealed that the koguma-soju produced from the Yeonmi variety had a leafy vegetable or a grass-like, sharp flavor, whereas the Jeungmi-soju was characterized by a fruity or a sulfur-like sharp taste. Floral, vanilla-like, and mild flavors were predominant in the Shincheonmi-soju, while the Shinyeulmi-soju had either a fruity, citrus-like flavor or a rubber-like, rough taste. This study demonstrates that koguma-soju made from different sweet potato varieties have unique characteristic flavors.

한국산 고구마 품종인 연미, 증미, 신천미, 신율미를 이용하여 제조한 고구마 소주의 향기성분의 특성