Research progress on guaiacol compounds in Baijiu

Guaiacol compounds are a kind of important flavor compounds widely existing in Chinese Baijiu. Among them, guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, 4-ethylguaiacol, and 4-vinylguaiacol, possessing the characteristics of low flavor threshold and diverse activities, have an important contribution to the improvement of Baijiu aroma and quality. In this paper, the research progress of the varieties, functions, detection methods, production pathways of guaiacol compounds and microorganisms producing guaiacol compounds in Chinese Baijiu was summarized, and the health functions and upgrading ideas of guaiacol compounds in Baijiu were discussed, which could provide reference for better research on the health active ingredients in Chinese Baijiu.