Food Flavours - Dimension and Purpose of Utilization
Flavouring agents contributing a huge part in the food processing industry, since employed in food products usually, to hold the taste and aroma consistency. Predominantly, food flavours wholly contributed by the smell, taste, colour, texture and temperature. The combination of these elements, determines the taste of food as delicious or unpleasant and additionally decides the palatability, aroma of food.
Flavours mostly used in all essential food products by changing its smell while keeping its taste similar sometimes. Flavour is no more than, kind of substance added to the food in a determined amount, that results in an alternative colour of food, alters the characteristics of the solute, causes it to become sweet, sour, etc.
The flavour of food will be altered or enhanced, with the usage of natural or artificial flavours in it. This can be totally exemplified in artificial flavoured jellies, soft drinks, candies, we often consume. This kind of flavourings are applied in commercially produced food products, and typically created by the food flavourists. Common applications of flavour market in India are beverage, bakery, confectionery, dairy, pharmaceutical and more industries.
The three main elements need to be considered in the definition of food flavours for effective result.
- Palatability (sweet, salt, sour, tangy, umami)
- Aroma (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, etc)
- The chemical reactions or trigeminal sensations after consumption in the body (heat sensation from chili, and so on)
Reasons for addition of flavouring agents
There are plenty of reasons available, that behind the usage of flavouring agents in the food. Few are,
- To Develop the food flavour, to some extent.
- To compensate the flavours that vanished in the food processing.
- Provides the specific colour and modifies the taste of food.
- Undesirable flavours have been applied to some naturally non-flavour foods. That helps in improving the acceptability of food.
- To extend the shelf-life
- Effortless way to make trend and get attention of consumers.
Rapid expansion of Global flavour industry
The global flavour industry has been propelled gradually, on the basis of strong, frequent switch of consumer’s taste and desire. This can be achieved highly by specialized, innovative, technical methods. It is incorporated mainly to the packaged food and cool drinks market. Just as, it is witnessed to be worth of USD 16.4 Billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 20.7 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR 0f 4.8% during the forecast time.
However, stringent rules and regulations has been established by regulatory authorities on flavours to hinder the growth of market. Furthermore, new raw material sources have been approached to generate the new flavours in the market shortly.
Visit FMT magazine for extensive information about food flavours.
