Ethyl Maltol

Key Characteristics:

1. Appearance & Odor: Typically appears as a white, crystalline powder with a intensely sweet, caramel-like, fruity, and jam-like aroma, often specifically reminiscent of cotton candy or burnt sugar. Its odor is significantly stronger than its close relative, maltol.

2. Potency: It is approximately 4 to 6 times stronger than maltol in its flavor-enhancing effects.

3. Origin: Primarily produced synthetically. While trace amounts might occur naturally in some roasted foods or fruits (like strawberries and pineapples), commercial production is entirely synthetic due to cost and efficiency.

4. Solubility: Soluble in water, alcohol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, making it versatile for various applications.

   
   

Primary Uses:

1. Food & Beverage Industry: The dominant application.

• Flavor Enhancer: Intensifies sweet, fruity, caramel, and jam-like notes in a vast array of products (baked goods, candies, chocolates, beverages, dairy products, jams, desserts).

• Masking Agent: Effectively masks metallic, bitter, or astringent off-notes in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

• Synergist: Works synergistically with other flavors and sweeteners, boosting their overall perception and creating a more rounded, pleasant taste profile.

2. Fragrance Industry:

• Used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and detergents to impart or enhance sweet, caramelic, fruity, and warm notes.

• Acts as a fragrance enhancer and fixative.

3. Pharmaceutical Industry:

• Employed primarily as a flavoring and sweetening agent in syrups, chewable tablets, and liquid medications to improve palatability and mask unpleasant medicinal tastes.

4. Tobacco Industry: Used to flavor tobacco products.