A New Aroma‐Bearing Substance from Shiitake, an Edible Mushroom

SUMMARY— Investigations on the physico-chemical properties and a sensory evaluation as a component of Shiitake flavor were carried out with lenthionine, a substance which was isolated from dried Shiitake mushroom. Lenthionine is practically insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents. Its stability in an aqueous solution changes greatly with the pH of the solution. Lenthionine was identified as a significant component in the aroma of Shiitake mushroom and its detectable threshold level is at a concentration between 0.27 and 0.53 porn in water. This new aroma-bearing substance will be used as a flavor additive in various foods.