The Aroma, Taste Contributions, and Flavor Evaluation Based on GC-IMS, E-Nose, and E-Tongue in Soybean Pastes: A Comparative Study

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the characteristics of different soybean pastes by using intelligent sensory analysis. In this study, color, flavor, texture, and taste were regarded as four factors affecting the sensory quality of soybean pastes and the sensory quality of four different soybean pastes was evaluated using fuzzy mathematics. The sensory evaluation scores of samples L, Z, and W were very similar and significantly higher than that of sample Y. Gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) detected 111 volatile flavor compounds, with acids, alcohol, and ketones having a significantly higher relative content than other compounds, indicating their vital role in the flavor formation process of soybean pastes. Furthermore, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model analysis identified 41 marker compounds that could differentiate the four types of soybean pastes. The overall odor and flavor profile were detected by the E-nose and E-tongue. These fundamental results lay the groundwork for future research on the similarities and differences between the flavor characteristics of different brands of soybean paste.