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Glite Dictionary
pyrazine

pyrazine

1 8.8
A chemical that gives foods and perfumes a roasted or nutty smell
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪrəˌzeɪn/
  • Specialized
: pirazina
  • Cheese varieties like Gouda gain their nutty flavor from the pyrazines they contain.

Examples

  • The aroma of roasted coffee is often enhanced by the presence of various pyrazines.

  • The roasted flavor in coffee is partly due to pyrazine compounds formed during the roasting process.

  • Scientists identified pyrazine as a key contributor to the earthy aroma of baked potatoes.

  • Perfume makers sometimes use pyrazine to add a nutty scent to their fragrances.

  • The pyrazine compound has a strong aroma.

  • Many foods contain pyrazines that enhance their flavor.

  • Pyrazine is a compound found in many foods that contributes to their distinctive smell.

Surface Forms

pyrazine singular
pyrazines plural

Etymology

Pyrazine can be remembered by its parts: the first part pyra- sounds like 'pyro' or 'fire', because many pyrazines form when foods are roasted, and the ending -azine is a common ending for chemicals that contain nitrogen. So pyrazine often means a small ring chemical that gives the roasted, nutty, or earthy smells used in foods and perfumes.