terpenes
A large class of organic compounds produced by plants, especially conifers and aromatic herbs.
Responsible for aroma and flavor in essential oils, terpenes mediate plant defense, pollinator attraction, and allelopathic signaling.
Built from isoprene units (C5H8), they range from simple monoterpenes to complex triterpenes and beyond.
Common examples include limonene in citrus, pinene in pine bark, and linalool in lavender.
Terpenoids are modified terpenes containing oxygen, found in resins, latex, and medicinal extracts.
In coffee, terpenes contribute to the aromatic complexity revealed during roasting.
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