Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the sensory quality attributes for the development of soy sauce containing an extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis Thunb (Hutgae), also known as liver function improvement and hangover removal. Aqueous extracts of Hutgae fruit and Hutgae fruit-soy sauce were used for determining the sensory evaluation. The intensity of the sweet smell and taste was predominated in the Hutgae fruit extract (p<0.05). Various seasoning items, such as apples, pears, dried figs, Korean bramble (Bokbunja), citron (Yuza) and sun-dried hot pepper (Taeyangcho), were used to determine the suitable type of seasoned soy sauce with the Hutgae fruit extract. In the sensory analysis, the highest overall preference (acceptance score 5) was obtained from the pear extract added to soy sauce with the Hutgae fruit. The overall preference of Yuza (score 4.9) and Taeyangcho (score 4.5) extracts also very well-matched the seasoning items for soy sauce with the Hutgae fruit extract. There was no difference among the extract mixtures of multi-seasoning items added to soy sauce with the Hutgae fruit extract. As more pear extract was added, a higher overall preference was obtained. On the other hand, as the more Yuza extract was added, the higher flavor intensity without the change of the overall preference was obtained. The overall preference of soy sauce with the pear- Yuza-Taeyangcho extract mixture was not different between with or without the Hutgae fruit extract. However, the overall preference (score 5.6) was significantly higher in the pear extract added to soy sauce with the Hutgae fruit extract compared with the pear extract added to soy sauce without the Hutgae fruit extract (score 4.8). These results suggest that soy sauce with the Hutgae fruit-pear extract mixture may be useful as a functional seasoning for various salad dressings.

Keywords

• Hutgae (Hovenia dulcis) fruit;
• soy sauce;
• sensory evaluation