Master's Course Advanced Molecular Gastronomy - Physical and Chemical Aspects of Flavour Pairing

Why follow this course?

The aim of the course is to educate the students in combining physical and chemical sciences with gastronomy relevant phenomena. The course will focus on science behind different products categories, in terms of textural and flavour aspects. These aspects are introduced in relation to developments in industry and restaurants. In this course we mainly focus on the product categories ice cream and wine. The course included both physical and chemical aspects of these products. To combine such aspects, we also include the aspect of flavour pairing.

Physical aspects

1. Different physical phenomena in products are described, such as ice crystallization, phase behaviour, rheology, interfacial phenomena, gel formation, diffusion, and flavour release. These phenomena are discussed to understand the preparation, the stability and the shelf-life of the foods, which may be an important aspect for restaurants or industry
2. For the different food products, the role of the ingredients are discussed with respect to the structure of the food (emulsion, dispersion, foam, interface)
3. The structure of the food is related to textural (sensorial properties) of the different food products. The scientific understanding of the systems will allow you to change the structure of the food and thereby control the sensory perception of the food

Chemical aspects

1. Chemical aspects important to understand the sensory perception are discussed, such as sweet and savoury. These are discussed in relation to the sensors present in our mouth to detect certain compounds
2. Different ingredients related to sensory detection are discussed and the interactions between different compounds in food. The effect of time or processing conditions will be discussed and how these can alter the sensory perception
3. The ingredients are discussed in terms of their functionality in different food products. The scientific understanding of these systems will allow you to control the stability of the products

Flavour pairing In this part, we give an introduction how to combine chemical aspects (sweet, savoury) and physical aspects (texture of food) in relation to sensory perception. We will discuss a model that can be used to classify foods and beverages and gives guidelines for flavour pairing.

Programme & topics

The activities during this course comprise: knowledge clips, self-study of the material, and digital case studies. The knowledge clips provide the theoretical background of the different topics. This will be complimented with written material. The case studies follow the knowledge gained from the knowledge clips and written material. The case studies are self-directing and feedback will provided during the exercises.

What you'll learn

• Identify the physical phenomena and understand the mechanisms of action that play a role in products such as ice-cream.
• Understand the mechanisms behind important taste modalities (sweet, umami).
• Be able to link structural aspects to texture and sensory perception.
• Be able to link taste modalities to sensory perception.
• Be able to analyse chemical and physical data to link the food ingredients to their function.

Capstone project

After completion of two or more courses there is a unique opportunity to apply what you have learned. You can start a capstone project in consultation with a Wageningen expert in the field. It is a tailor-made project, where you will write a short paper about your results and conclusions. During this work you will be coached by the expert. Price: €1,230,-.

Examination

You can complete the online master's course(s) with an exam (not obligatory). If you don’t complete the course with an exam or if you do not pass the exam successfully, you can ask for a certificate of attendance. When you successfully complete the course and the exam, you are entitled to a certificate of successful completion. The certificate is included in the course price. The examination date is 07/06/2024 (7 June 2024).

Practical information

Deadline registration

The deadline for registration of this online master's course is 2 weeks before the start date. If you register less than 2 weeks before the start date, we will do our best to get you enrolled in the course(s) to which you registered before the start date of the course, but we can’t guarantee a timely start. Please contact the course coordinator for more information via the contact form.

Level of knowledge

Admission to the course requires a level of education in Food Science and Technology or related, such as Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology. Relevant work experience can be considered.

English proficiency

The language of instruction of this course is in English. Admission to the course requires a level of English as defined at the website for Dutch nationals, EU nationals or nationals outside EU/EFTA respectively.

Micro-credentials

After completing this course you may receive micro-credentials. Micro-credentials certify the learning outcomes of short-term learning experiences, marking the quality of a course.

Combining courses

When you want to learn more about ingredient functionality, other courses are interesting for you too! You can deepen your knowledge in a specific career field, without following a complete master's programme. You can register for any combination, but these are our suggestions:

• Advanced Molecular Gastronomy - from Ingredients to Food Texture (strongly recommended)
• Advanced Biochemical Analysis of Foods - Product Composition
• Advanced Biochemical Analysis of Foods - Product Authenticity and Toxicology
• Food Ingredient Functionality