Appearance
Color intensity, clarity, bubble size, and foam/head for carbonates.
26 protocols · One standard
Sensory Quality System™
Soft Drinks
Juices, sodas and functional drinks — carbonation, sweetness balance and finish.
Soft Drinks Sensory Quality System™
What sensory evaluation techniques are necessary to identify and measure soft drinks excellence?
To identify the quality of soft drinks products, sensory analysis relies on trained panel assessments, testing targeting appearance, aroma, flavor, texture/mouthfeel, and overall acceptability; these are supported by standardized descriptive profiling, hedonic and discrimination tests, tailored to the product's culinary use and complexity.
Some of the sensory attributes evaluated
Aroma
Volatility, freshness, type-specific notes (citrus, cola, fruity, herbal), presence of off-odors.
Taste
Sweetness, acidity, bitterness, saltiness, umami, flavor complexity, balance, harmony, and aftertaste.
Texture & mouthfeel
Carbonation (tingling, fizz, bubble persistence), viscosity, astringency, smoothness, syrupiness.
Finish
Length and pleasantness of flavor persisting after swallowing.
Implementation
Panels typically consist of at least 4–6 trained tasters.
Samples are served blind at controlled temperature in standard glasses.
Scores are recorded independently on the 100-point sensory sheet before panel calibration.
These methods and criteria allow for a comprehensive sensory identification and grading of Soft Drinks excellence, supporting effective product evaluation and differentiation.
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Submit your soft drinks for the annual Excellent Taste Awards
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