Flavour Science: Chapter 17. The Flavor of Elderflower – Species Differentiation via Flavor Compounds

The very pleasant flavor of elder flowers (Sambucus niger L.) was the focus of this study. The flavor compounds of elder flowers of various varieties obtained from different growing sites were investigated over a period of 3 years. The flowers were analyzed by headspace SPME and subsequent GC-MS. Multivariate analysis of the data showed that there are significant differences in the composition of the volatile compounds depending on the elder variety, whereas differences based on the growing site and the year of vegetation play a minor role. Wild forms cannot be related to any distinct elder variety via the flavor profile.