Chemical Properties
2-Methylbutyric acid has a pungent, acrid odor similar to Roquefort cheese with an acrid taste. At low dilutions, it has
a pleasant, fruity taste
Occurrence
Occurring as the d-, l-, and dl-isomers; the racemic form has been reported found in angelica root oil and coffee; the d-isomer in the ester form has been identified in lavender oil. Also reported found in apple, apricot, berries, grapes, papaya,
peach, guava, pineapple, potato, bell pepper, tomato, peppermint and spearmint oil, vinegar, wheat breads, cheeses, chicken, mutton,
pork, hop oil, beer, cognac, rum, whiskies, cider, cocoa, coffee, tea, peanuts, passion fruit, trassi, mango, plum, tamarind, rice, corn
oil, loquat, scallops, Chinese quince, maté, mammee apple and Roman chamomile oil, cranberry, grape brandy, oriental tobacco,
and strawberry
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 10 to 60 ppb. Aroma characteristics at 1.0%: acidic sour, pungent, ripe fruit leather, lingonberry, dirty cheesy, fermented pineapple fruity with a woody nuance
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: dirty, acidic sour, ripe fruity, with a dairy buttery and cheesy nuance
