The Evergreen Dried So Sweet

The Evergreen, a common Christmas tree, is known for its sweet aroma when dried. This sweetness is primarily due to the presence of terpenes, natural compounds found in the tree's foliage. Terpenes are volatile oils that contribute to the plant's scent and flavor. When the Evergreen is dried, these terpenes are released, creating a sweet, pine-like fragrance.

Why is the Evergreen Dried So Sweet?

The sweetness of the dried Evergreen is a result of the chemical composition of the tree. Terpenes, which are a class of organic compounds, are the main contributors to the tree's scent. These compounds are found in the leaves, needles, and bark of the Evergreen. When the tree is dried, the terpenes are more concentrated and more easily released into the air, leading to the sweet aroma.

Data from a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2015 found that the main terpenes in the Evergreen include limonene, pinene, and myrcene. Limonene, for instance, is a terpene found in citrus fruits and is known for its sweet, citrusy scent. Pinene, another terpene, is found in pine trees and has a piney, woody aroma. Myrcene, on the other hand, is a terpene found in hops and has a sweet, earthy scent.

The concentration of these terpenes increases when the Evergreen is dried. This is because the water content in the leaves decreases, allowing the terpenes to become more concentrated. The release of these terpenes into the air is what gives the dried Evergreen its characteristic sweet smell.

In conclusion, the sweetness of the dried Evergreen is due to the presence of terpenes, which are natural compounds found in the tree's foliage. When the tree is dried, these terpenes become more concentrated and are released into the air, creating a sweet, pine-like fragrance.