How does high fructose corn syrup serve as a flavor enhancer?
High fructose corn syrup is described as having an “early” sweetness profile, which enhances the flavors in foods and beverages. This means that when high fructose corn syrup is consumed, the sweetness is detected rapidly by human taste buds, or “early” in the tasting process, but the sweetness does not linger. As the sweetness of high fructose corn syrup subsides, other flavors such as fruit, citrus and spice are experienced more clearly and completely. It is the crispness and clarity of its sweetness profile that allows high fructose corn syrup to enhance other flavors.
