Analysis of Significant Factors in the Flavor of Traditional Korean Soy Sauce (I) - Analysis of General Characteristics, Sugars and Organic Acids Contents -

This study was carried out in order to investigate general characteristics, sugars and organic acids contents of Korean traditional soy sauce, and to find out possibility of high quality soy sauce production in a short period through high concentration soy sauce making. In this study, we prepared three different types of soy sauce, low concentration soy sauce (Chungjang), high concentration soy sauce and Kyupjang, high quality traditional Korean soy sauce. pH of soy sauce were and did not show difference among three samples. Titratable acidity, buffering power and total free acid content were the highest value in Kyupjang. Kyupjang showed the highest contents of salt and pure extract. As the ripening period increased, the salt content increased in Chungjang samples, but decreased in Kyupjang. Reducing sugar contents of Kyupjang, high concentration soy sauce and low concentration soy sauce were 1.13%, 0.76% and 0.53%, respectively. Free sugar in soy sauce were analyzed maltose, glucose, galactose and fructose. Total free sugar content was highest in high concentration soy sauce, however, contents of glucose and fructose were higher in Kyupjang than in Chungjang samples. Galactose was the main free sugar in Chungjang, but glucose was in Kyupjang. Among identified volatile organic acid, acetic acid was present in the highest concentration, and volatile organic acid content was highest in the high concentration soy sauce at 150 days. 20 nonvolatile organic acids were detected in Korean traditional soy sauce. Succinic acid, lactic acid and 2,5-pyridine dicarboxylic acid were the main nonvolatile organic acid in soy sauce.