Sensory evaluation of cheese: Definition of quality attributes

Abstract

Serpa cheese is a soft cheese with an AOP designation, obtained from curdling of raw ewes milk, by the action of an infusion of Cynara cardunculus L.

Sensory evaluation can be defined as a trilogy linking the panellists, the product and the assessment. The relation between them, makes it possible to determine different sensory methodology. According the main objective and the expected response, this methodology comprises the selection and training of panellists, the type of assessment and the type of scale.

The aim of this study was to evaluate Serpa Cheese quality and define the sensory attributes of flavour and texture.

A trained panel carried out the sensory evaluation of 126 Serpa cheese samples with sixty days of ripening, in fourteen sessions. The panellists also performed a quantitative and also a hedonic assessment.

The trained panel defined the Serpa cheese sensory profile, as well as was established correlations between the sensory attributes and cheese ´ quality.