DHF, furaneol
or strawberry furanone
-3-hexenal.gif){kind=small}
3(Z)-hexenal
and diacetyl
strawberry esters
Strawberry
Fragaria vesca (Rosaceae) Woodland strawberry
Cultured sorts of strawberries are originating from hybrids between different
American species, especially Chile strawberry, F. chiloensis,
and Virginia strawberry, F. virginiana. There are numerous varieties.
However, the aroma of ripe woodland strawberries is second to none.
The joyful strawberry aroma is a charming accord of fruity elements: saturated
aliphatic esters, carboxylic acids, 2-ketones and lactones, 'green' elements:
2/3-(E)/(Z)-hexenol/hexenal, caramel elements: 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)-furanone
(DMF) and 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DHF), floral elements:
linalool and nerolidol, and spicy-floral elements: methyl anthranilate
and eugenol - to name the most important constituents [29] [100] [101].
-anethol.gif){kind=small}
(E)-anethole
Myrrhis odorata (Umbelliferae)
This beautiful umbellifer origins in the mountainous regions of Central Europe. It has been grown as a medicinal plant in the monasteries, and now it has spread to most of Europe. In Denmark, for example, it is found here and there along the roads in forests and in the countryside. You only have to rub the leaves to experience the magnificent anise flavour, due to the aromatic compound (E)-anethole (see also anise and star anise) [149].
Etymology: Gr. myrrhis, an erroneous reference to the fragrant Myrrh gum-resin.
formation of coumarin from its glycoside
Sweetclover
Melilotus albus (Fabaceae) White sweetclover
Coumarin is found in many plants - sweetgrass, vernal grass, sweetclover,
woodruff, lavender,
tonka beans,
etc.
In the fresh, living plants coumarin is mostly present as a glycoside
(e.g. melilotoside in sweetclover), but when the plants are injured or
wither, the glycosides are split by enzymes [70] [102]. The sweet smell
of new-mown hay may be due to coumarin from the grasses mentioned above.
In Denmark, sweetclover is a common weed on fallow fields, along railway
lines, etc. Extracts from sweetclover, 'Melilotus absolute', has been
used in flavouring tobacco.
Etymology: Lat. melis, honey, sweet.
alpha-pinene, 1,8-cineole, germacrene B, and gamma-cadinene
Sweet Gale
Myrica gale (Myricaceae) Bog myrtle
Sweet gale is a little bush with fragrant leaves growing in heather moors,
where it may form dense stands along banks or where running water is frequent.
The photos show - from upper left to lower right - twigs with leaves and
unripe fruits, female flowers, male flowers, and pollen.
The gale family consists of about sixty species in one genus Myrica,
with sweet gale as the only species in Northern Europe. Probably the gale
family should be reckoned as a member of the walnut
order, Juglandales, with which it shares the build of the flowers, pollen,
seeds, and the number of chromosomes.
In old times, before hops became commonly grown, the leaves of sweet gale
were used for flavouring beer, and they are still used for making bitters
(In Denmark: Aalborg Porse Snaps,
Products > Aquavit > Aalborg Aquavit).
Leaves and fruits are covered with resinous glands containing an essential
oil, rich in mono- and sesquiterpenes. Alpha-pinene, 1,8-cineole, germacrene
B and gamma-cadinene are among the major components [7]. There is some
variation depending on location and genotype.
Recently there has been an increased interest in the volatile oil from
sweet gale as a repellent against the highland biting midge, Culicoides
impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).
Etymology: Gr. myron, perfume.