Development of an Orange-Tangerine Juice Treated by Assisted Pilot-Scale UV-C Light and Loaded with Yerba Mate: Microbiological, Physicochemical, and Dynamic Sensory Studies

An orange-tangerine juice processed by pilot-scale UV-C light (390 mJ/cm 2 ) assisted by mild heat (UV-C/H,50 °C) and enriched with yerba mate (YM) extract (UV-C/H + E) or encapsulated YM extract (UV-C/H + EE) is proposed. The inactivation of Escherichia coli , Lactiplantibacillus plantarum , and Saccharamyces cerevisiae was assessed. Juice samples were analysed for polyphenol content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA), colour, turbidity, and °Brix along refrigerated storage (4 °C; 20 days). For the UV-C/H + E and UV-C/H + EE juices, dynamic consumer profiling studies were performed. According to the challenge study, UV-C/H induced high microbial inactivation (4.9–5.8 log-reductions). TPC (0.059 ± 0.002 mg GAE/mL) and TAA (6.3 ± 0.2 mg TroloxEq/mL) in the UV-C/H + EE juice were 2.1 and 1.6 times greater than the untreated ones, respectively. The UV-C/H + E juice displayed a slightly lower increase in TPC (0.045 ± 0.020 mgGAE/mL), but similar TAA (7.1 ± 0.3 mgTroloxEq/mL), compared to the UV-C/H + EE juice. Therefore, the encapsulation procedure prevented YM extract from TPC degradation. UV-C/H did not alter juice colour while YM addition increased its turbidity. Frequent consumers of YM tea showed a high willingness to try the juice. A cluster sensory analysis revealed that one group of consumers was interested in the sour and herbal aroma of the UV-C/H + E and UV-C/H + EE juices. The T-CATA question showed that the sweetness and herbal aroma of the UV-C/H + E juice were better perceived with sips; whereas, UV-C/H + EE juice perception shifted from fruity , herbal aroma , and sweet to intense taste , bitterness , and pleasant aroma . Thus, YM extract encapsulation also contributed to mask juice bitterness in the first sip while highlighting its sweetness. However, as juice intake proceeded, the panelists perceived juice bitterness more intensely.