Impact of different smoke flavors on the quality of hermetically sealed green chili paste (Nam Prik Num)

This research examines how various smoke flavors such as powdered smoke, teak, and longan wood affect the quality of hermetically sealed green chili paste (Nam Prik Num). Teak and longan wood smoking produced a darker green color than the control and smoke powder samples. The smoky aroma had no impact on yield, pH, water release, or chemical composition. However, it did influence moisture content, lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), and water activity (aw) compared to control and smoke-flavored samples. The attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) showed structural changes, control with C-H groups at 2924 cm−1, and smoking introduced –COOR at 1744 cm−1, signifying flavor-induced alterations. The heightened peak hinted at a distinctive smoke aroma, deepening our understanding of molecular transformations. Sample smoke flavor compounds studied using a solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS), included hydrocarbons, alcohol, aldehydes, ketones, esters, acids, and sulfide compounds, with sulfide compounds, alcohol, hydrocarbon, and alcohol compounds as the predominant volatiles. Nam Prik Num with smoke powder scored higher in appearance, color, aroma, taste, and texture than the control. Flavoring with smoke powder is more effective than charcoal grilling for adding smoky taste to Nam Prik Num.