Flor

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/flor

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Primarily Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida species
2. What is the geographical origin?Endemic to the bodegas of Andalucía, Spain
3. What is Flor in sherry?Flor is a special layer of yeast that floats on the surface of certain sherry wines, like a fluffy blanket. It is made mainly of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida species. This layer helps give sherry its unique taste.
4. How does Flor make sherry taste special?The yeast in Flor eats sugars and later drinks alcohol and other compounds, creating a chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde gives sherry a fresh, nutty, and green‑apple flavor. The yeast also makes a waxy coating that keeps the wine from spoiling.

Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms encased in a self-produced matrix.
Pellicle: A thin, often waxy or leathery film formed on the surface of a liquid.
Catabolize: To break down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
Aldehydic Wines: Wines characterized by a significant presence of aldehyde compounds, like sherry.