Many desirable meat like flavor volatiles are synthesized by heating water-soluble precursors such as amino acids and carbohydrates.
It is generally agreed that sulfur compounds, particularly cysteine play a key role in the development of meat like flavors.
In 1960, Morton et al. received the first patent which claimed that heating cysteine with ribose, glucose or xylose gave a flavor and aroma reminiscent of meat.