What You Need to Know
During aging, starter and adjunct enzymes catalyze proteolysis, breaking casein into peptides and amino acids, while lipolysis releases free fatty acids that contribute to aroma. Mold cultures such as Penicillium species further metabolize these compounds, producing volatile molecules like diacetyl and acetaldehyde that define characteristic scents. The interplay of temperature, humidity, time, and microbial ecology governs the rate and extent of these biochemical transformations.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Proteolysis, lipolysis, mold metabolism