l-Menthyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (l-alpha-MenG(2)), an alpha-maltoside of l-menthol, was synthesized through a three-step enzymatic reaction. We found that 1-alpha-MenG(2) possesses the properties of a low-molecular-weight gelator. Aqueous solutions containing l-alpha-MenG(2) at concentrations above 30 g L-1 show a thermally reversible sol gel transition. The sol gel transition temperature of the aqueous l-alpha-MenG(2) solution increases with l-alpha-MenG(2) concentration: 12 degrees C at 30 g L-1 and 24 degrees C at 250 g L-1. d-Menthyl and d-isomenthyl alpha-maltosides were also synthesized enzymatically, but their aqueous solutions showed no sol-gel transition.