In order to enhance food flavor, we put some flavor substance into food. And this kind of flavor substance named as edible flavor. It not only can be applied in food directly, but also can be applied in toothpaste flavor, tobacco flavor, mouth cleanser, medicine flavor and so forth.

(I) Specialty of edible flavor

Edible flavor is different from daily flavor and other flavors. It shows in the following aspects:

(1)The purpose of edible flavor is to improve food flavor (2) Edible flavor has to consider the sense of soft in taste. Too bitter or sour flavor can not applied in food. (3) Human are sensitive for edible flavor. This is caused by people’s smell and taste. (4) Edible flavor relates with product color. If this kind of fruit flavor is different from natural fruit color, people will feel that the aroma is illusion.
(II) Edible flavor sort

Edible flavor has wide application and various categories. There are many methods for classifying them.

1.       By flavor composing

Flavor can be sorted into two categories. One is monocase flavor which is only applied in some special circumstances. It usually used as raw materials for adjusting flavor. The second is consonant flavor. People usually make use of this flavor to collocate a certain flavor.

2.       By flavor shape

They can be sorted into four categories:

(1)    Water based flavor, water quality,

(2)    Oil essence, common edible essence usually dilutes it with plant oil.

(3)    Emulsified essence means to put some emulsifying agent, stabilizer into oil flavor.

(4)    There are two methods for making powder flavor. One is to make lactose as carrier and mix flavor-basis with monocase. Another one is to make flavor-basis into emulsified flavor
By aroma type