Abstract
Four varieties of the Korean sweet potato, Yeonmi, Jeungmi, Shincheonmi, and Shinyeulmi, were chosen to prepare the distilled koguma-soju (sweet potato-soju). The relationship between the flavor of the koguma-soju and the content of monoterpene alcohols (MTAs) was studied. The MTAs investigated here were linalool, nerol, geraniol, citronellol, and ${\alpha}$-terpineol. The ranges of MTA concentrations in the koguma-soju made from the four sweet potato varieties were $14.0-16.6{\mu}g/L$ for nerol, $24.8-34.7{\mu}g/L$ for linalool, $32.8-38.5{\mu}g/L$ for geraniol, $37.8-54.2{\mu}g/L$ for citronellol, and $76.6-94.7{\mu}g/L$ for ${\alpha}$-terpineol. Geraniol, nerol, and linalool were found in lower concentrations, while ${\alpha}$-terpineol was present in a higher concentration compared to their average content in the imo-shochu, a distilled Japanese sweet potato-soju. The concentrations of citronellol in the koguma-soju and imo-shochu were similar. The flavor evaluation tests revealed that the koguma-soju produced from the Yeonmi variety had a leafy vegetable or a grass-like, sharp flavor, whereas the Jeungmi-soju was characterized by a fruity or a sulfur-like sharp taste. Floral, vanilla-like, and mild flavors were predominant in the Shincheonmi-soju, while the Shinyeulmi-soju had either a fruity, citrus-like flavor or a rubber-like, rough taste. This study demonstrates that koguma-soju made from different sweet potato varieties have unique characteristic flavors.