Abstract: A method of improving the quality of a starch-containing food and a method of suppressing the retrogradation of a starch-containing food by adding an enzyme having a glycosyl transfer activity, whereby an ?-1,4 bond is converted into an ?-1,6 bond, to the starch-containing food; and a quality improving agent for a starch-containing food which contains the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dairy product with smooth oral sensation and suppressed acidic taste and bitter taste and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein a protein deamidating enzyme is added to raw milk to act on the milk protein in the raw milk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein deamidating enzyme that is added to a food material containing muscle protein and acts on the same to produce high-quality foods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dairy product with smooth oral sensation and suppressed acidic taste and bitter taste and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein a protein deamidating enzyme is added to raw milk to act on the milk protein in the raw milk.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for producing foods and/or beverage having improved taste and/or flavour, comprising reacting a microbial aminopeptidase on a protein material optionally under the co-existence of a protease, wherein said aminopeptidase has the properties of: (a) having an activity of catalyzing the reaction of specifically releasing a glutamic acid and an aspartic acid from the N-terminal of a peptide and/or a protein; (b) having 50% or more activity at pH6.0-9.0 as compared with the activity at the optimum pH; (c) having 40% or more activity after heating at 25-60° C., pH7.5 for 30 minutes as compared with the activity of the non-heated enzyme; (d) having a molecular weight of about 40-60 kD as measured by SDS-PAGE and about 300-480 kD as measured by native-PAGE; (e) having a hydrolyzing activity of the aminopeptidase toward Glu-Glu dipeptide is 5 U/mg or more, preferably 10 U/mg or more.

Abstract: A method of improving the quality of a starch-containing food and a method of suppressing the retrogradation of a starch-containing food by adding an enzyme having a glycosyl transfer activity, whereby an ?-1,4 bond is converted into an ?-1,6 bond, to the starch-containing food; and a quality improving agent for a starch-containing food which contains the enzyme.

Abstract: In the present application are disclosed a method for enhancing or improving the flavor of foods or drinks in general with the use of a non-volatile thiazolidine compound alone or a non-volatile flavor compound and/or a reaction flavor concurrently with the non-volatile thiazolidine compound, a simple and effective method for improving the flavor of a retort food by suppressing the flavor-deterioration upon heat sterilization or the unpleasant odor at the time of eating, and a simple and effective method for improving the flavor of a soybean-incorporated food product by suppressing the unpleasant, weed-like odor peculiar to soybean.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a cysteine-rich food material by maintaining a food material containing ?-glutamylcysteine at a ratio of at least 1 wt % to the solid content thereof at a temperature ranging from 50 to 120° C. and at a pH ranging from 1 to 7. This process is conducted in the absence of a sugar and in the presence of water. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a cysteine-rich food material by reacting the food material with a ?-glutamyl peptide hydrolase at a pH ranging from 3 to 9 and at a temperature ranging from 15 to 70° C. in the present of water. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing a flavor-enhancing material for use in food, food products obtained by these processes, and yeast cells or extracts for use in food products.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for producing foods and/or beverage having improved taste and/or flavour, comprising reacting a microbial aminopeptidase on a protein material optionally under the co-existence of a protease, wherein said aminopeptidase has the properties of: (a) having an activity of catalyzing the reaction of specifically releasing a glutamic acid and an aspartic acid from the N-terminal of a peptide and/or a protein; (b) having 50% or more activity at pH6.0-9.0 as compared with the activity at the optimum pH; (c) having 40% or more activity after heating at 25-60° C., pH7.5 for 30 minutes as compared with the activity of the non-heated enzyme; (d) having a molecular weight of about 40-60 kD as measured by SDS-PAGE and about 300-480 kD as measured by native-PAGE; (e) having a hydrolyzing activity of the aminopeptidase toward Glu-Glu dipeptide is 5 U/mg or more, preferably 10 U/mg or more.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a flavor precursor composition comprising as an active ingredient a flavor precursor compound (flavor precursor compound A) in which a volatile flavor compound having a mercapto group in the molecule and a non-volatile compound having a mercapto group in the molecule are bound to form a disulfide structure, or a flavor precursor compound (flavor precursor compound B) which is an organic compound represented by Formula (1) shown below in which R1H is a non-volatile compound and R2H is a volatile compound having in the molecule a furan ring structure (including a structure where part or all of the carbon—carbon double bonds thereof are hydrogenated) or a thiophene ring structure (including a structure where part or all of the carbon—carbon double bonds thereof are hydrogenated), said Formula (1) being: R1—(S)n—R2 ??(1) which composition can preserve, and release, the flavor effectively and can be used in the fields of fragrances and foods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a cysteine-rich food material by maintaining a food material containing &ggr;-glutamylcysteine at a ratio of at least 1 wt % to the solid content thereof at a temperature ranging from 50 to 120° C. and at a pH ranging from 1 to 7. This process is conducted in the absence of a sugar and in the presence of water. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a cysteine-rich food material by reacting the food material with a &ggr;-glutamyl peptide hydrolase at a pH ranging from 3 to 9 and at a temperature ranging from 15 to 70° C. in the present of water. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing a flavor-enhancing material for use in food, food products obtained by these processes, and yeast cells or extracts for use in food products.

Abstract: In the present application are disclosed a method for enhancing or improving the flavor of foods or drinks in general with the use of a non-volatile thiazolidine compound alone or a non-volatile flavor compound and/or a reaction flavor concurrently with the non-volatile thiazolidine compound, a simple and effective method for improving the flavor of a retort food by suppressing the flavor-deterioration upon heat sterilization or the unpleasant odor at the time of eating, and a simple and effective method for improving the flavor of a soybean-incorporated food product by suppressing the unpleasant, weed-like odor peculiar to soybean.

Abstract: A foodstuff having improved taste quality comprising a taste-improving amount of a pepper extract, a piperine-containing fraction of pepper or one or more piperines.