April 5, 2022 - 10:15am
Fruity
Hi there
Can someone tell me what's happening to my starter when it smells like ripe fruit after 5-6 days on the counter , unfed?
Thank you
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Hi there
Can someone tell me what's happening to my starter when it smells like ripe fruit after 5-6 days on the counter , unfed?
Thank you
Sounds like the organisms are doing their thing. My starter often smells fruity when it's grown after being fed. If it starts to smell sour or has peaked and fallen it will be depleted of food and start to produce more acid compounds....but honestly it sounds like your starter is doing great.
Are you growing this one brand new? Has it shown an increase in size in the container? Might be time for another feeding depending on what your goals are. But nothing in your post would make me concerned about the health or viability of the starter.
Sorry I shouldn't have phrased my question that way. What I meant was, after 5 days on the counter, unfed, I expected more of a strong alcohol or beer fragrance not a fruity one. I thought fruity meant it's well fed. My starter is quite well established. About 2 years old.
The formation of several esters is common as a result of fermentation and are in part responsible for the fruity aromas found in wine. Interestingly, most wine grapes are non-aromatic and so most of the fruit characteristics are derived as a consequence of alcoholic fermentation.
And it's not just esters, there are many other volatile aromatic complexes that may occur.