Characterization of the Fermentation Process and Aroma Profile of Carob Brandy

The possibility of producing carob brandy was investigated, focusing on the fermentation of carob and the preliminary characterization of the volatile components in the obtained distillates. Fermentations were carried out in carob mash with or without added nutrients by five Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains at three different temperatures. The obtained wine was subjected to fractional distillation in a copper still to produce carob spirit. Analysis of sugars and fermentation products was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with MS detection was used to analyze the volatile components of carob wine and brandy. Carob flour and the strains used can be efficiently used for the fermentation process to produce carob wine with ethanol content ranging from 46.4 to 50.5 gL−1 and corresponding yield coefficients ranging from 0.45 to 0.49 gg−1. More than ninety compounds detected in carob spirit; ethyl 2-methyl butanoate, ethyl 2-methyl propanoate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl hexanoate, beta-ionone, ethyl butanoate and ethyl octanoate, largely contribute to the bouquet of the spirit. Thus, a novel volatile spirit may be an additional product in the carob processing chain and represent a new potential, especially for small carob growers.