Quality characteristics of horchata (a Spanish vegetable beverage) treated with pulsed electric fields during shelf-life

The application of pulsed electric fields (PEF) is one of the new non-thermal technologies being studied to evaluate their potential as alternative or complementary processes to thermal pasteurization. “Horchata de chufa” (tiger nut milk or earth almond milk) is of high nutritional quality and therefore has great potential in the food market, limited by its very short shelf-life. The present work studies whether PEF can be used to obtain a quality horchata and increase its shelf-life while maintaining its organoleptic characteristics. In order to do so we determined pH, total fat, peroxide index, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances index, formol index, and peroxidase activity in natural (untreated) horchata and horchata subjected to various PEF treatments and studied their stability during refrigerated storage (2–4 °C). After PEF treatment, only peroxidase activity decreased significantly (p < 0.05). This parameter and pH varied during the shelf-life of the horchata, and a negative correlation was obtained between pH and peroxidase activity.     

Flavor and Stability of "Horchata De Chufas"

Horchata is a sweetened water extract of chufa tubers (Cyperus esculentus) which is very popular in Spain, and has potential in the U.S. The objectives of this research were to characterize horchatas from different types of chufa, and to monitor flavor and stability of unheated and pasteurized horchatas during storage (2°C). Trained panelists rated the following attributes: color, chalkiness, sweetness, vanilla-like, nutty, earthiness, bitterness, and off-flavor. Horchatas made with chufa grown in Spain and chufa from Spain but grown in Florida showed higher vanilla and nutty levels than horchata from the Florida type. During storage (2°C), vanilla, nutty, and sweetness decreased, and other attributes increased. Heating to 70 and 95°C for 1 min did not alter sensory attributes initially, prevented off-flavor development, and slowed changes in desirable attributes for 35 days.     

油莎豆非油制品加工研究进展

油莎豆又称虎坚果,莎草科莎草属植物,原产于非洲,作为一种集粮、油、牧、饲于一体的新兴农作物已被我国引进种植。油莎豆具有较高的经济价值和开发潜力,其块茎不仅营养丰富,还具有降血压、降血脂、降低胆固醇等医学保健功能。从油莎豆主粮制品、饮品、发酵制品和其他制品几个领域,阐述了油莎豆非油制品加工的最新研究进展,并对其未来发展前景进行展望,以期为油莎豆块茎以及其提油后副产物的开发利用提供参考。     

Reclaim of the By-Products from “Horchata” Elaboration Process

The recovery of effluents for different uses is an interesting practice that can contribute to a better management of water resources all over the world. Tiger nuts or “chufa” (Cyperus esculentus) are tubers mainly used to produce “horchata de chufa” (tiger nuts milk), yielding a high quantity of co-products (solids and liquids). The composition of these co-products makes them suitable for other uses. The aim of this work was to study the composition, microbial quality, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of the “horchata” drained-water. The obtained results prove that “horchata” drained-water could be considered a valuable source of natural antioxidants. A good correlation between total phenol content and reducing power, rancimat performance, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation of buffered egg yolk assays supports the idea that phenols may be the main contributors to the antioxidant power of “horchata” drained-water. However, its microbial quality is poor, so this liquid residue must be heat-treated before its addition to any food product.     

Phytochemistry Profile,Nutritional Properties and Pharmacological Activities of Mauritia flexuosa

Mauritia flexuosa L. (Arecaceae) is a popular Brazilian fruit known as “buriti” and belonging to the category of functional foods. This work reviewed the phytochemistry profile, nutritional and pharmacological activities of M. flexuosa. The main bioactive compounds reported to buriti were carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, fiber, phytosterols, and mono‐ and poly‐unsaturated fatty acids. These compounds were mainly related to antioxidant, hypolipemiant, photoprotector, antiaggregant, antithrombotic, anti‐inflammatory, hypoglycemiant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities. Furthermore, some compounds present in buriti fruit and its properties were tested in vitro and in vivo and showed biotechnology applications, especially for extraction of fiber, polysaccharides, pigments, antioxidants, and oil. Howerer, the buriti fruit shows great relevance to the development of new products in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industry, this fruit is still underexploited and it has need to expand its production chain and processing to encourage their consumption and utilization.     

Effects of post-drying methods on pomelo fruit peels

Process conditions of alkali refining, bleaching, and deodorization of crude chufa oil extracted from chufa (Cyperus esculentus L.) tubers grown in Korea were optimized to obtain an edible grade vegetable oil. The overall scope of refining conditions was similar to other vegetable oils. The degumming process, however, could be omitted since phospholipids were removed during alkalirefining and bleaching processes. RBD (alkali-refined, bleached, and deodorized) chufa oil fully satisfied Korean quality standards for edible vegetable oil. Chufa oil contained a high level of oleic acid, along with palmitic acid and linoleic acid. Physicochemical properties of chufa oil were similar to olive oil. The order of oxidative stability of chufa oil was crude>deodorized>degummed>refined>bleached oil. RBD chufa oil was virtually colorless and bland tasting, and was considered suitable for edible purposes.     

Untargeted metabolomics reveals links between Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) and its geographical origin by metabolome changes associated with membrane lipids

ABSTRACT

Tiger nuts and tiger nut milk are well-known Valencian products, and step-by-step these tubers and the tuber-based beverage are becoming more and more relevant products in international markets. However, the increasing demand and success of Valencian tiger nuts did not allow protected designation of origin (PDO) tuber to supply the domestic and international markets. Therefore, the verification of the geographical origin is highly required. In this research, the main objective was to combine an advance analytical method and chemometrics tools in order to decipher the geographical origin of 45 tiger nut samples from (i) ‘Xufa de València’ PDO and (ii) African samples. The analytical method, based on solid-liquid extraction followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) metabolomics approach, highlighted sensitivity and wide linear dynamic range in order to simultaneously analyse polar and non-polar metabolites. After data processing, a pronounced sample clustering according to the geographical origin was clearly observed using unsupervised models, and supervised models revealed that tiger nuts lipidome was associated with the geographical origin. As a result, African samples highlighted an overexpression of phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanolamine 34:1, and triacylgricerols crosslinked to environmental stress and alteration of membrane lipid compositions.     

Physical and chemical properties of chufa (Cyperus esculentus L) tubers grown in the Çukurova region of Turkey

Four lines of chufa (Cyperus esculentus) grown in 1998 and 1999 in the Çukurova region of Turkey were analysed for their physical properties, proximate chemical composition and fatty acid contents. The chufa lines contained on average (g kg^?1) 932.8 dry matter, 245.0 crude lipid, 256.8 starch, 14.3 ash, 50.5 protein, 89.1 crude fibre, 17.1 reducing sugar, 154.3 total sugar and 130.4 sucrose. Hunter L, a⁺ and b⁺ colour values of ground chufa samples were in the ranges 55.93–60.59, 3.71–5.09 and 15.60–16.85 respectively. Individual chufa tubers weighed between 0.224 and 0.283 g. The fatty acid composition of chufa oil included (g kg^?1) 689.2–732.9 oleic acid, 125.5–141.2 palmitic acid and 99.6–154.6 linoleic acid, which is comparable with that of olive oil. After storage for 1 year the differences in mean values were significant (p < 0.05). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

油莎豆资源的综合开发利用

油莎豆为莎草科多年生草本,全生育期110~130 d,块茎产量高且富含油脂,已成为生产生物柴油的原料植物。油莎豆是多用途的经济作物,除可加工成生物柴油外,还可以进行综合利用。对油莎豆在生物柴油、天然药物、食用油和食品工业等方面的综合开发进行了介绍,以期为油莎豆的综合利用提供借鉴。     

Untargeted metabolomics reveals links between Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) and its geographical origin by metabolome changes associated with membrane lipids

Tiger nuts and tiger nut milk are well-known Valencian products, and step-by-step these tubers and the tuber-based beverage are becoming more and more relevant products in international markets. However, the increasing demand and success of Valencian tiger nuts did not allow protected designation of origin (PDO) tuber to supply the domestic and international markets. Therefore, the verification of the geographical origin is highly required. In this research, the main objective was to combine an advance analytical method and chemometrics tools in order to decipher the geographical origin of 45 tiger nut samples from (i) ‘Xufa de València’ PDO and (ii) African samples. The analytical method, based on solid-liquid extraction followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) metabolomics approach, highlighted sensitivity and wide linear dynamic range in order to simultaneously analyse polar and non-polar metabolites. After data processing, a pronounced sample clustering according to the geographical origin was clearly observed using unsupervised models, and supervised models revealed that tiger nuts lipidome was associated with the geographical origin. As a result, African samples highlighted an overexpression of phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanolamine 34:1, and triacylgricerols crosslinked to environmental stress and alteration of membrane lipid compositions.     

Walnut (Juglans regia L.): genetic resources,chemistry, by‐products

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is the most widespread tree nut in the world. There is a great diversity of genotypes differing in forestry, productivity, physical and chemical nut traits. Some of them have been evaluated as promising and may serve as germplasm sources for breeding. The nutritional importance of the nut is related to the seed (kernel). It is a nutrient‐dense food mainly owing to its oil content (up to 740 g kg^?1 in some commercial varieties), which can be extracted easily by screw pressing and consumed without refining. Walnut oil composition is dominated largely by unsaturated fatty acids (mainly linoleic together with lesser amounts of oleic and linolenic acids). Minor components of walnut oil include tocopherols, phospholipids, sphingolipids, sterols, hydrocarbons and volatile compounds. Phenolic compounds, present at high levels in the seed coat but poorly extracted with the oil, have been extensively characterised and found to possess strong antioxidant properties. The oil extraction residue is rich in proteins (unusually high in arginine, glutamic and aspartic acids) and has been employed in the formulation of various functional food products. This review describes current scientific knowledge concerning walnut genetic resources and composition as well as by‐product obtainment and characteristics. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical analysis of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentis)

Tiger nut, Cyperus esculentis L, is a tuber that grows and is consumed widely in West Africa. It is eaten unprepared, soaked in water, or dried and mixed with roasted peanuts. The purpose of this work was to determine the composition of tiger nut as part of its nutritional evaluation.     

The Glycemic Potential of White and Red Rice Affected by Oil Type and Time of Addition

Limited research exists on how different oil types and time of addition affect starch digestibility of rice. This study aimed to assess the starch digestibility of white and red rice prepared with 2 oil types: vegetable oil (unsaturated fat) and ghee (clarified butter, saturated fat) added at 3 different time points during the cooking process (“before”: frying raw rice in oil before boiling, “during”: adding oil during boiling, and “after”: stir‐frying cooked rice in oil). Red rice produced a slower digestion rate than white rice. White rice digestibility was not affected by oil type, but was affected by addition time of oil. Adding oil “after” (stir‐frying) to white or red rice resulted in higher slowly digestible starch. Red rice cooked using ghee showed the lowest amount of glucose release during in vitro digestion. The addition of ghee “during” (that is boiling with ghee) or “before” (that is frying rice raw with ghee then boiling) cooking showed potential for attenuating the postprandial glycemic response and increasing resistant starch content. This is the first report to show healthier ways of preparing rice. White rice with oil added “after” (stir‐fried) may provide a source of sustained glucose and stabilize blood glucose levels. Boiling red rice with ghee or cooking red rice with ghee pilaf‐style may provide beneficial effects on postprandial blood glucose and insulin concentrations, and improve colonic health. The encouraging results of the present study justify extending it to an in vivo investigation to conclusively determine the effect of time of addition of fat when rice is cooked on blood glucose homeostasis.     

A Survey of Commercially Available Isomaltooligosaccharide‐Based Food Ingredients

Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) are included in many commercially available food products including protein/fiber bars, shakes, and other dietary supplements. Marketed as “high fiber,” “prebiotic soluble fiber,” and/or as a “low‐calorie, low glycemic sweetener,” IMO may be present in significant amounts, for example, more than 15 g/item or serving. Herein, high‐pressure anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection and high‐pressure liquid chromatography with differential refractive index detection are used to compare 7 commercially available IMO‐containing bulk food ingredients. The ingredients are typical of those produced either (a) via bacterial fermentation (“fermented” IMO or MIMO) of sucrose in the presence of a maltose acceptor mediated by a glucosyltransferase enzyme (dextransucrase), or (b) via transglycosylation of hydrolyzed starch with α‐glucosidase (“industrial” IMO). Analysis of the results with respect to digestibility suggests that the potential glycemic impact of the ingredients and products containing “industrial” IMO may be inconsistent with the product labeling and/or certificates of analysis with respect to overall fiber content, prebiotic fiber content, and glycemic response and are thus inappropriate for diabetic patients and those on low‐carbohydrate (for example, ketogenic) diets.     

Integrating end-user preferences into breeding programmes for roots,tubers and bananas

“Consumers have their say: assessing preferred quality traits of roots, tubers and cooking bananas, and implications for breeding” special issue, brings together new knowledge about quality traits required for roots, tubers and bananas (RTB) varieties to successfully meet diverse user preferences and expectations, along the variety development and RTB value chains (production, processing, marketing, food preparation, consumption). Key RTB crops in sub-Saharan Africa are cassava, yams, sweetpotatoes, potatoes and bananas/plantains. They are mainly consumed directly as boiled pieces or pounded in the form of smooth, not sticky, and stretchable dough. They are also stewed, steamed or fried. Cassava, the most widely grown RTB, is generally boiled, stewed or steamed in Eastern and Southern Africa, and in West and Central Africa is usually processed directly into derivative products, e.g. whole root fermentation through retting or heap fermentation; fermentation/dewatering of the mash. Biophysical and social knowledge presented in this issue help elaborate goals for both the processing unit operations (food scientist control) and variety traits (breeder control).     

Chlorogenic Acid Oxidation and Its Reaction with Sunflower Proteins to Form Green‐Colored Complexes

Sunflower seeds are used to produce oil for human consumption, but its protein meal by‐product has long been used as animal feed. Formation of green‐colored complexes through oxidized chlorogenic acid(CGA)‐protein interactions is a primary reason why defatted sunflower protein has not been widely utilized by the food industry. Sunflower protein possesses many properties that make it an appealing alternative protein source from both a marketing and formulation perspective, including its low cost, absence of major allergens, low antitrypsin inhibitors, and its status as both vegan and “clean” label friendly. With the global demand for sunflower oil and novel protein sources expected to increase and waste recovery a concern for many, providing uses for the sunflower meal and its fiber and polyphenol components would provide added value to by‐products from sunflower oil processing. This review addresses the unique green pigmentation associated with the interaction of sunflower protein and oxidized CGA by outlining the sunflower oil and protein meal market, CGA reactions contributing to greening, methods for CGA extraction, and the effect of processing on sunflower protein quality and the greening reaction. This review also addresses potential food applications of sunflower protein‐based ingredients, such as addition of texturized protein to food products; a microencapsulation matrix for antioxidants; edible, flexible biodegradable films; and even use of sunflower butter as an alternative to peanut butter where the green color is not considered undesirable. Continued studies are needed to make sunflower‐based products and CGA‐extraction processes available across the global marketplace.     

TOTAL QUALITY INDEXES FOR EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OILS

ABSTRACT

In this article, we propose a new and functional mathematical index, able to describe and compare the nutritional, safety and process quality in extra‐virgin olive oil, introducing a definition of “optimal” oil, through the use of appropriate distances in a N‐dimensional parameter space. Our index does not pretend to be the unique answer to the need of a “quality index,” but it presents a way through which we can establish if an extra‐virgin olive oil can be considered of high, medium or low quality. The main goal of our index is to link oil chemical quality to its commercial price; furthermore, it can be, in perspective, useful to detect the critical points (such as harvest time, drupe storage, processes and finally oil storage) during all the production chain, and to show how to increase nutritional, safety and technological quality.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The index could be mainly helpful for consumers because the only indication that they can use today, in order to operate a choice, is in general the price of the oil, which is not necessarily related to its quality. In fact, it is possible to relate our index to the oil price. This tool can also be addressed to producers, to help them to detect the critical points along the whole food production chain and eventually operate the needed corrections to obtain a high‐quality extra‐virgin olive oil, as stated in the Discussion.

     

Advances in cultivar choice,hazelnut orchard management,and nut storage to enhance product quality and safety: an overview

European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a major species of interest for nutritional use within the Betulaceae family and its nuts are widely used throughout the world in the chocolate, confectionery, and bakery industries. Recently its cultivation has been expanded in traditional producer countries and established in new places in the southern hemisphere, including Chile, South Africa, and Australia. Introducing hazelnut in new environments could reduce its productivity, lead the trees to experience eco‐physiological disorders, and expose the crop to high pressure from common and new pests and diseases. Thus, new approaches in cultivar choice guidance, in the sustainable orchard management and even in nut storage and kernel quality evaluation are urgently required to improve the hazelnut production and processing chain. The main objective of this study was to systematize the published information regarding recent findings about the cultural operations that directly influence nut and kernel quality, support varietal choice for new plantations, and list the recent advances in nut storage and in quality and safety evaluation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Discourses of Distinction in Contemporary Palestinian Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Production

This article shows how Palestinian producers, faced with an “existential threat” to their own physical locality, seek to re-qualify their goods such as olive oil not only as elite goods based on the discourse of distinction of taste, but also in politically-inflected global discourses of distinction that attend to how the product is sourced, produced, and exchanged. Palestinian entrepreneurs and NGO-sponsored agricultural professionals are making olive oil “distinctive,” thereby seeking to locate these Palestinian products as elite goods within a global space of circulation and distinction. To produce this kind of extra-virgin olive oil, production practices must change and new skills must be inculcated, like organoleptic “tasting practices.” Ethical consumerism is promoted through fair trade strategies which seek to connect producer with consumer, embedding Palestinian olive oil with a “taste of solidarity.” “Quality” is perceived as a tool to gain international recognition of its olive oil and, by proxy, of Palestine itself.     

Essential oil yield and composition of Pistacia vera ‘Kerman’ fruits,peduncles and leaves grown in California

BACKGROUND: Pistacia vera ‘Kerman’ is the predominant pistachio nut cultivar in the United States (California), the world's second largest producer. Despite several reports on the essential oil (EO) content in the genus Pistacia, data on ‘Kerman’ are limited. The EO content and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of tree nut orchards are of current interest to researchers investigating insect pests and the potential role of EO and VOCs as semiochemicals. To establish a basis for the VOC output of pistachios, the EO content of fruits, peduncles, and leaves was analyzed. RESULTS: Evaluated plant parts contained limonene as the primary EO component, followed by α‐terpinolene. Peduncles were unique in containing relatively high levels of α‐thujene. The results were reproducible between two different geographical locations. In situ solid phase microextraction (SPME) studies demonstrated the volatile emission was representative of the EO composition. CONCLUSION: This is the first report detailing the content and distribution of EO and the unique limonene‐dominant profile for this Pistacia vera cultivar which may influence pistachio insect pest semiochemical research. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry