Production of alcoholic beverage from ginger: study of fermentation process and final product quality

Introduction: In Brazil part of the production of ginger is of inadequate quality for export. The production of spirit from felt-over rhizomes is an alternative of great interest to producers of these rhizomes. Aim: Aiming to increase the value of felt-over rhizomes, this work aimed to study the use of ginger as a raw material for alcoholic beverage production. It was evaluated the effect of fermentation conditions on the components of fermented alcoholic, as well as, the quality of alcoholic distilled beverage of ginger. Methods: Dehydrated ginger passed by enzymatic hydrolysis-saccharification processes. The hydrolysate obtained was analyzed for sugar profile in HPLC. The alcoholic fermentation process followed the central composite rotational design for three factors: fermentation temperature (23 to 37ºC), time of fermentation (17 to 33 h) and concentration of inoculum (0.22 to 3.00%). The fermented alcoholic obtained was analyzed in HPLC for the contents of ethanol, methanol, glycerol and residual sugars. The distillated alcoholic beverage of ginger was analyzed for ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and higher alcohols in the gas chromatography (GC). In addition, copper content and acidity were analyzed Results: Sugar profile of the ginger hydrolysate revealed the presence of 77.8% of glucose. Data analysis of fermentation process showed influence of temperature on ethanol and methanol content of the fermented alcoholic of ginger. Time of fermentation had effect on glycerol content. All parameters of process had influence on residual sugars contents. The HPLC analysis has shown presence of methanol, ethyl acetate, aldehyde, acids, higher alcohols and esters in distilled alcoholic beverage of ginger. Conclusion: Fermented alcoholic of ginger with higher levels of ethanol can be obtained under the conditions of 1.5% w/w of inoculum, 30°C of temperature and 24 hours of fermentation time. In this condition of fermentation process the beverage of ginger had good quality.

Caracterização química e sensorial de bebida mista de soja e uva

The aim of this study was to produce mix beverages of grape juice and soybean hydrosoluble extract (SHE) in laboratory scale. The raw materials were soybean (variety BRS 213), grape (species Vitis labrusca, variety Niagara Rosada), citric pectin, water and sugar. The mix beverage was produced with different proportions of SHE and grape juice (1:1; 1:1.5 and 1:2; respectively; m/m) and different soluble solids concentrations (10, 12 and 14 °Brix) obtained by adding granulated sugar (sucrose). Soybean hydrosoluble extract, grape juice and mix beverages were chemically analyzed (humidity, ash, protein, lipids, carbohydrate, reducing sugars, total reducing sugars, sucrose, titratable acidity and pH). The mix beverages were sensorial analyzed through the acceptance test (hedonic scale). The results of chemically analyzed were expressed as mean and standard deviation and the results of sensorial analyzed were submitted to variance analysis and the means were compared using the Tukey test at 5% of probability. The pH of mix beverages was lower than 3.9, without addition of acidulants. Sugar addition to mix beverages (10; 12 and 14ºBrix) increased the levels of soluble solids, total reducing sugar and carbohydrates, but it did not interfere in the reducing sugar concentration. The increased proportion of grape juice in mix beverages allowed observing the elevation of titratable acidity and reducing sugars levels, as well as the pH reduction. The increase of grape juice in mix beverage did not interfere in the acceptance of mix beverages. The more sweetened beverages were preferred by the sensory panel.

Efeito da modificação atmosférica em goiabas var. Paluma na redução de danos mecânicos em pós-colheita

In the postharvest management, the fruits can be exposed to injuries that depreciated the quality and the shelf life. Thus, it was evaluated the modified atmosphere effects on guavas var. Paluma subjected to different mechanical damages. Once harvested, the fruits were selected, sanitized and submitted to the treatments T1 (control) - without injuries or packaging in bags of low density polyethylene (LDPE); T2 - without injuries + LDPE bags; T3 - damage by fall of 1 m + LDPE bags; T4 - damage by compression of 9 N + LDPE bags; T5 - damage by fall of 1 m + damage by compression of 9 N + LDPE bags and T6 - damage by fall of 1 m + damage by compression of 9 N without LDPE bags. The treatments were kept in cold storage at 10 ± 1 o C and 94 ± 2% de R.H. The analysis of CO2/ethylene production, enzymatic activity, total and soluble pectins, pulp firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SS), reducing sugars and ascorbic acid were performed every 10 days of refrigeration, and an additional day outside cold storage (22 ± 1o C and 75 ± 3% R.H.) for 30 days. Guavas packed in LDPE bags, not subject to mechanical damage, presented the best quality standards. The fruits suffered only one kind of damage, when packaged, presented satisfactory pattern compared to the fruits without package and not exposed to any mechanical damages. Applying the two kinds of damages, the LDPE packaging was not adequate to decrease the metabolic rate of these fruits, making them unfit for marketing.