A LEXICON FOR TEXTURE AND FLAVOR CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH AND PROCESSED TOMATOES

ABSTRACT A lexicon for describing the sensory flavor and texture characteristics of fresh and processed tomatoes was developed. A six‐member highly trained, descriptive sensory panel identified, defined and referenced 33 sensory attributes for fresh and processed tomatoes. Forty products including a variety of raw, canned, concentrated and dried tomatoes, as well as tomato‐based products including ketchup and simple pasta sauce, were evaluated in the study. These products represented a wide range of sensory characteristics in raw and processed tomatoes. The lexicon established included 5 aroma attributes, 10 texture attributes and 18 flavor attributes including 6 taste and mouthfeel attributes. The lexicon provides attribute descriptors, definitions and references that often are lacking in previous literature. Reducing the number of attributes may be appropriate when testing specific tomato products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Increased consumption of tomato products has expanded interest in improving the sensory characteristics of tomatoes and subsequent products. This research provides a list of sensory flavor and texture terms that can be used to describe the sensory characteristics of both fresh and processed tomatoes. This information will help researchers, breeders and processors better understand the flavor and texture properties of fresh and processed tomatoes, and the tomato characteristics of tomato products. Taste attributes, often used in previous literature, are important but are not enough to describe the characteristics of tomatoes. In addition to flavor attributes, aroma and texture properties are important for describing tomato characteristics but have not been thoroughly established in previous research.