Fungi in coffee beans add to flavour

[Guest guest]

Fungi in coffee beans add to flavour

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/08/25/coffee-fungus.html

Last Updated: Friday, August 25, 2006 | 4:57 PM ET

CBC News

Different types of fungi found in coffee beans help give a brew its

flavour and aroma, Brazilian researchers say.

The inherent characteristics of coffee beans lend the drink its

taste and aroma, but naturally occurring fungi in the beans also

make a difference, and could complement traditional flavourings,

said Martha Taniwaki of Brazil's Institute of Food Technology.

Taniwaki and her colleagues collected raw coffee beans and isolated

the fungi a week later.

The samples were then roasted, ground, brewed and taste-tested for

body, aroma, acidity, bitterness, sweetness and astringency or

harshness.

The different flavours linked to moulds were described as floral,

citric, caramel, chocolate and toast.

Sweeter species of fungus led to better-tasting coffee, the

researchers found.

Continue Article

Soil, climate and humidity determine which fungi grow inside the

coffee bean, said Taniwaki, who presented the findings this week at

the International Mycological Conference in Cairns, Australia.

By learning more about coffee fungi, it might be possible to

encourage the growth of desirable species, the way wine and cheese

makers do, she said.

With files from the Australian Broadcasting

[Guest guest]

Oh My!! Sooo many doctors have tried to convince

me to give up coffee and failed. I figure the

small amount I drink won't hurt me but THIS did

it!!! Thanks for the heads up on this!

--- tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

> Fungi in coffee beans add to flavour