Flavor Evolution of Honey Peach Juice Based on Raw Material Maturity

Fruit maturity is a major factor associated with the final juice’s flavor quality. To explore the flavor changes and differences of the honey peach juice processed from different maturities, ‘Hujingmilu’ honey peaches from three different maturities were selected for the study. Flavor profiles of honey peach juice with different maturities were separated and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). The results showed that sucrose and malate were the major accumulation forms in mature fruits. 70% maturity fruit juice had the lowest total sugar and total acid content. The total sugar (112.58 mg/g FW), sweetness value (99.40), sugar-acid ratio (15.57), and sweet-acid ratio (13.74) of the 80% maturity fruit juice were relatively high, and the sweet and sour flavor was strong. Meanwhile, the relative content of alcohol (11.79%) in 80% maturity fruit juice was higher, giving the juice a strong fruity and sweet aroma. The sweetness value (93.35), sugar-acid ratio (13.38), and sweet-acid ratio (11.93) of the 90% maturity fruit juice were the lowest. As the maturity increased, the ester content gradually increased, while the aldehyde content gradually decreased. The principal component analysis showed that 80% maturity fruit juice was suitable for processing high-quality honey peach juice, with a suitable sweet-sour taste, and strong fruity, floral aromas. This study provides theoretical and data support for the research and development of honey peach juice based on natural flavor.