When a fruit ripens, it gets sweeter over time. Are the sugars already there for the fruit to get sweeter or how does it gain “sweetness” over time?

Question

When a fruit ripens, it gets sweeter over time. Are the sugars already there for the fruit to get sweeter or how does it gain “sweetness” over time?

In: 447

Answer 1

There are two factors, the first is universal: starch is converted to sugar during ripening, and while starch isn’t sweet to us, sugar is. Specifically the starch is broken down into simple sugars such as sucrose and fructose. The second is specific to some fruits, and that’s the reduction of sour or bitter compounds in the fruit, which further enhance palatability and the sense of sweetness.