Sensory scores for saltiness and thickness obtained for savory liquids thickened with starches or the nonstarch hydrocolloid hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) were correlated with the panelists' amylase activity. Although higher enzyme activities were linked to lower thickness scores for systems thickened by starch, they were also associated with a decreased taste perception, particularly for starches retaining a granular structure after gelatinization (wheat and modified waxy maize). Microscopic evidence showed that the enzyme can disrupt such structures, and this is associated with a decreased mixing efficiency with water and consequently a reduced transport of tastant (sodium) to the saliva (aqueous) phase and to the taste buds. This explains the lower saltiness scores for subjects with higher amylase activity, even if they are associated with a lower perceived thickness.
The viscosity of starch pastes prepared from waxy maize and wheat starches was measured as a function of concentration. Concentrations at which the two starches had comparable viscosities were selected and the decrease in viscosity with time on amylase addition was determined at 37C using a rapid viscosity analyzer (RVA). At the same level of enzyme addition the decrease in viscosity with time was much faster for waxy maize starch compared to wheat starch. For the latter, the time for the RVA viscosity to be reduced to half its value was of the order of 10 s. Volatile release was substantially increased with amylase addition. It is suggested that, at comparable initial viscosities, starch‐thickened products have better flavor and taste perception than products prepared with other thickeners because of the in‐mouth viscosity decrease resulting from amylase degradation. This could be explained by a reduction in perceived viscosity, which may enhance flavor perception as a consequence of signal processing within the brain, and/or an increase in the concentrations of volatiles reaching the olfactory receptors.
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