Categories of sensory analysis tests There are three categories of tests used in sensory analysis: preference, difference and descriptive.
Preference tests Purpose: to find out which food product is preferred, or if a food product is acceptable.
Paired preference tests
Two different samples of a food product are given, e.g. full-fat and low- fat biscuit. The tester is asked: Taste the samples and identify which you prefer.
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Hedonic rating scale
Hedonic refers to pleasure.
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851 One or more samples of a food product are given. The tested is asked:
Taste the sample and rate how much you like or dislike it on the accompanying verbal or pictorial scale.
9-POINT VERBAL SCALE Pleasant Neutral Unpleasant
Most pleasant Very pleasant Moderately pleasant Slightly pleasant
5-POINT PICTORIAL SCALE Dislike very much
Preference ranking test
Dislike a little
Not sure
Like a bit
Like very much
Two or more samples of a food product are given. The tester is asked:
Taste the samples and rank your preference by placing 1st choice beside the sample that you prefer the most, 2nd choice beside your next preference and 3rd choice beside the sample you least prefer.
