Chemical composition of the sugar cane spirit "cachaça" produced in the northwest area of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

With the aim of knowing the chemical composition and quality requirement of the sugar cane spirit, "cachaça" produced in the Northwest Region of the Rio Grande do Sul State, 27 samples of "cachaça" were analyzed, produced and marketed in 18 municipal districts that belong to the areas of Ijuí, Cruz Alta, Santa Rosa and Três Passos, which are in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The values found were compared with the ones established in the Legislation. Concerning the statistical analyses, the ANOVA and Tukey tests were applied. The evaluated samples showed a medium value of alcoholic text, acidity, higher alcohols, aldehydes, esters and methanol within what the Legislation establishes. However, the interval values of concentration to these same parameters revealed samples that are not stipulated by law, showing a lack of technological knowledge of production by some of the producers. An extension of this study is suggested with the purpose of investigating other technological aspects aiming at the optimization of processes of fabrication and better quality of the beverage.