Decoding of the enhancement of saltiness perception by aroma-active compounds during Hunan Larou (smoke-cured bacon) oral processing.

The enhancement of saltiness induced by odrants perceived from the retronasal cavity during Larou oral processing was analyzed. During the oral processing of Xiangtan Larou, the smoky attribute was the dominant when chewing 0–15 times, followed by the savory (15–24 times) and meaty (24–42 times). Partial least squares analysis predicted 33 aroma compounds from the retronasal cavity significantly (p < 0.05) contributing to the aroma perception. A total of 12 aroma compounds with saltiness-enhancement ability were confirmed by odorant–NaCl mixture model experiments. Results revealed that 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (1.00–1000.00 μg/L) had the strongest enhancing effect on saltiness at NaCl (2969.85 mg/L), followed by diallyl sulfide (0.156–2.50 μg/L), 2,5-dimethylthiophene (0.156–50.00 μg/L), 2,6-dimethylphenol (1.00–100.00 μg/L), 2,5-dimethylpyrazine (0.391–50.00 μg/L), and 2,3-butanedione (0.50–100.0 μg/L). The sulfur-containing, nitrogen-containing, and phenolic odorants with savory, roasty, sulfide, meaty or smoky, attributes showed the better ability in saltiness enhancement. [Display omitted] • Aroma perceived from retronasal cavity during Larou oral processing were studied. • Smoky, savory, and meaty were the dominant notes during Larou oral processing. • Twelve odorants with saltiness-enhancement ability were confirmed. • 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol showed the strongest saltiness enhancement ability. • Smoky, savory, roasty, meaty attributes had better saltiness-enhancing ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]