Sensory Lexicon for Fresh Squeezed and Processed Orange Juices

The aim of this study was to develop a flavor vocabulary (odor, aroma basic tastes and trigeminal/tactile sensations) to describe both fresh-squeezed and thermally processed (commercial) orange juices. Two independent panels located in different countries (Spain and USA) selected a common lexicon using multivariate analysis. Two sets of samples were selected and evaluated independently: the American sensory panel analyzed 40 orange juices varied in processing technology (pasteurized, refrigerated from concentrated, frozen concentrated and canned juices) and cultivars (Valencia, Temple, Navel, Hamlin, and Amber Sweet). The Spanish panel analyzed 26 samples that included thermally processed juices (pasteurized and refrigerated from concentrated) and unheated, hand squeezed juices (Valencia and Navel). A total of 34 common attributes were selected (15 for odor, 12 for aroma, 3 for basic tastes and 4 for trigeminal/tactile sensations). Data obtained were analyzed by geometric means, principal components analysis (PCA) and by Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant differences between the major categories of commercial juices were observed for all attributes in both countries and were also observed between fresh-squeezed and processed orange juices.