Aroma Components of Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) Te and Its Model System

Aroma components of tea processed from Korean chicory roots were isolated and identified. The model system of amino-carbonyl reaction was carried out to study the formation mechanism of aroma compounds of chicory tea during manufacturing process. The concentration extracts from chicory tea and model system were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography(GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. Twenty-nine compounds, including pyrazines, furans, acids, alcohols, pyrroles and lactones were isolated and identified in chicory tea. The main compounds were pyrazines including methyl pyrazine, 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine, 2, 6-dimethyl pyrazine, 2-ethyl-6-methyl pyrazine, 2-ethyl-3-methyl pyrazine, thrimethyl pyrazine, 3-ethyl-2-5-dimenthyl pyrazine, 5-ethyl-2-3-dimenthyl pyrazine, and 2-acetyl-3-methy pyrazine and pyrroles including acethl pyrrole and formlyl pyrrole ; and furans including furfural , acetyl furan, 5-methyl furan, 5-methyl furfuralm, and furfuryl alcohol. These pyrazine compounds of a roasted and nutty aroma may be important contributors to the flavor of chicory tea. The aroma concentrate of model system also had a roasted and nutty aroma and the main compounds were methyl pyrazine, 2, 5-dimetyl pyrazine, 2, 6-dimethyl pyrazine and trimethyl pyrazine.