Butyric Acid

Butyric acid is a fatty acid with a strong, pungent odour reminiscent of rancid butter, sweat and in high concentrations, vomit. Its taste is similarly potent, being sour and fatty. Due to these characteristics, it is rarely used in high concentrations in food and beverages. However, in low amounts, it can add complexity to cheese flavours, mimic the taste of butter, and even feature in some fermented products. It also reacts, over periods of time, with alcohols to form fruity esters.