Abstract
Characteristics of six commercial samjangs were analyzed such as proximate composition, free amino acids, organic acids and free sugars. Also color, taste and odor were evaluated by 36 panelists. They were composed of moisture content 41.4-48.4%, crude protein 9.2-10.4%, crude fat 2.2-3.4%, pH 5.3-5.7, amino nitrogen 194.0%-375.6 mg% and sodium chloride 7.7-9.1%. Total free amino acids of samjangs were 975.89-2304.98 mg%. Glutamic acid was the highest amino acid among free amino acids as 231.7-788.01 mg%. Proline, arginine, alanine and lysine were higher than other free amino acids while histidine, cystine and methionine were lower than other. Eleven free amino acids including glutamic acid were the highest in samjang (B) which contained more doenjang than any other makers did. Total organic acids were 401.01-640.27 mg%. 69.65-269.07 mg% of succinic acid was the highest among organic acids. Lactic acid was the highest in samjang (F) which was home made. Total free sugars was the highest in samjang (A) which contained more wheat flour than any other makers did it. Glucose was 9.30-23.99% and fructose was nd-2.69%. The result of proximate composition showed a different pattern comparing with that sensory evaluation. Samjang (A) which contained less salt showed the highest overall acceptability while samjang (F) which contained more dark color, more salt was the lowest one among the samples.
