Citrus Growers Forum

baumgrenze · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Palo Alto, CA

As a retired synthetic organic chemist, I found the New Yorker article linked below fascinating. Before I became an ag chemist, I had an interest in flavor chemistry, but there were not job opportunities when I wanted one.

The link just gets you an abstract, but, if that looks interesting you can probably find a copy of the magazine at your local library or even at the doctor's office.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/11/23/091123fa_fact_khatchadourian

Raffi Khatchadourian, Annals of Science, The Taste Makers, The New Yorker, November 23, 2009, p. 86

baumgrenze

Millet · Posted: Fri 15 Jan, 2010 1:21 am

The link below tells about Givaudan's (the world's largest flavor company) trip to UCR's Citrus Variety Collection, in search of citrus flavors. I have been in the fragrance business for 31 years, and have used the complete Givaudan Index of fragrances and flavors. The index list just about every fragrance known, and in many cases the plant that is associated with the fragrance. - Millet (1,095-)

http://www.inlandsocal.com/business/content/manufacturing/stories/PE_News_Local_S_flavors08.2a000af.html

baumgrenze · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Palo Alto, CA

Millet,

Thanks for the additional link. It adds to the New Yorker story.

Your mention of the Givaudan Index reminded me that we had a copy in the Zoecon Library. I think it was already there when I arrived in 1970. There was another set of books, a three volume set on plant phytochemistry, but I no longer recall the name. I miss having access to the Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia, too. I've been retired since 1997, so some stuff is starting to fade.

I'll make just a few more 'off topic' comments in closing. I remember being fascinated as a grad student in the aroma shift that took place as methyl groups were added adjacent to the carbonyl in a cyclic ketone. To this day I find myself crushing the leaves of a plant I've never seen before to learn what scents it has to offer.

After grafting the daylights out of an apple tree and an Asian evergreen pear, I'm now discovering the fun of Joe Real's technique for grafting citrus. I think this forum ROCKS.

baumgrenze