Sensory Comparisons Research Articles

Sensory comparisons between handmade and instant bonito-kelp stocks in Japanese dishes

The aim of this study was to compare the use of handmade and instant bonito-kelp stocks in Japanese-style dishes. Japanese dishes prepared with handmade or instant bonito-kelp stocks could be discriminated from one another (p < 0.01). The handmade stock was rated as preferable in liquid-type dishes, while the instant stock was preferable in solid-type dishes (p < 0.01). Our analysis showed that handmade and instant stocks had significantly different compositions of taste constituents (p < 0.01). For example, the concentrations of aspartic acid and histidine were both higher in the handmade stock than in the instant stock. Instant stocks had markedly higher concentrations of glutamic acid and 5′-inosinic acid as compared with handmade stocks. In addition, the total number of free amino acids and nucleic acid compounds differed between the handmade and instant stocks: handmade stock had many types of components, whereas instant stock had only a few types. These findings imply that the composition of taste components is simpler in instant stocks than in handmade stocks.

Spatial Comparisons of Mechanosensory Information Govern the Grooming Sequence in Drosophila.

SUMMARYAnimals integrate information from different sensory modalities, body parts, and time points to inform behavioral choice, but the relevant sensory comparisons and the underlying neural circuits are still largely unknown. We use the grooming behavior of Drosophila melanogaster as a model to investigate the sensory comparisons that govern a motor sequence. Flies perform grooming movements spontaneously, but when covered with dust, they clean their bodies following an anterior-to-posterior sequence. After investigating different sensory modalities that could detect dust, we focus on mechanosensory bristle neurons, whose optogenetic activation induces a similar sequence. Computational modeling predicts that higher sensory input strength to the head will cause anterior grooming to occur first. We test this prediction using an optogenetic competition assay whereby two targeted light beams independently activate mechanosensory bristle neurons on different body parts. We find that the initial choice of grooming movement is determined by the ratio of sensory inputs to different body parts. In dust-covered flies, sensory inputs change as a result of successful cleaning movements. Simulations from our model suggest that this change results in sequence progression. One possibility is that flies perform frequent comparisons between anterior and posterior sensory inputs, and the changing ratios drive different behavior choices. Alternatively, flies may track the temporal change in sensory input to a given body part to measure cleaning effectiveness. The first hypothesis is supported by our optogenetic competition experiments: iterative spatial comparisons of sensory inputs between body parts is essential for organizing grooming movements in sequence.

Investigation of tofu products coagulated with trimagnesium citrate as a novel alternative to nigari and gypsum: Comparison of physical properties and consumer preference

This paper investigates the potential of trimagnesium citrate (TMC) as an alternative tofu coagulant, comparing it with the traditional coagulants used in industry as a means to address shortcomings of the two most common traditional coagulants: nigari (NGR) which has a high cost, but good organoleptic properties, and gypsum (GYP) which is inexpensive, but yields an undesirable taste/texture. Yield, water-holding capacity (WHC), texture profile analysis (TPA), confocal microscopic analysis, and sensory evaluation were conducted to compare raw and cooked tofu made from different coagulants. Use of TMC had no effect on yield but did influence several textural properties. For example, hardness and chewiness of TMC-tofu were significantly lower than both traditional products, while the cohesiveness of TMC-tofu and NGR-tofu samples were similar, being slightly lower than the GYP-tofu values. The rate of centrifugal water expression had no difference among the coagulants, but WHC of TMC-tofu was lower than NGR-tofu but similar to GYP-tofu. Structurally, TMC-tofu was similar to NGR-tofu, having numerous, irregular-shaped, small pores. In sensory comparisons, panelists preferred raw TMC-tofu over NGR-tofu and cooked TMC-tofu over GYP-tofu. Therefore, TMC, at the 0.35% range used in this study, should easily be suitable to replace or supplement traditional coagulants.

On the Dynamics of Conspicuity.

To examine the influences of dynamic conspicuity on object recognition and to evaluate the real-world implications of these processes. Conspicuity is the major influence on persons' abilities to recognize the presence of entities within their environment. Shortfalls in sensory and cognitive conspicuity are implicated in many, if not most, real-world systemic failures. The present observations derive from an overview of relevant empirical research allied to a synthetic integration. From these foundations, I articulate a proposed taxonomy through which to parse the essential dimensions of conspicuity. The taxonomy features three axes related to (a) modality (e.g., visual vs. auditory, etc.), (b) processing directionality (e.g., top-down vs. bottom-up information flow), and finally (c) temporality (i.e., the differences between static vs. dynamic presentations). Existing conspicuity studies have primarily featured static, sensory comparisons. Exploration of the other quadrants of the proposed taxonomy can serve to frame future conspicuity research. This taxonomic description also provides the basis from which to understand failure etiology in a wide spectrum of human-machine systems. Improvements in the understanding of conspicuity can help in all domains of HF/E and can serve to reduce failure in a wide variety of operational contexts.

Prefrontal Neurons Represent Motion Signals from Across the Visual Field But for Memory-Guided Comparisons Depend on Neurons Providing These Signals.

Visual decisions often involve comparisons of sequential stimuli that can appear at any location in the visual field. The lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) in nonhuman primates, shown to play an important role in such comparisons, receives information about contralateral stimuli directly from sensory neurons in the same hemisphere, and about ipsilateral stimuli indirectly from neurons in the opposite hemisphere. This asymmetry of sensory inputs into the LPFC poses the question of whether and how its neurons incorporate sensory information arriving from the two hemispheres during memory-guided comparisons of visual motion. We found that, although responses of individual LPFC neurons to contralateral stimuli were stronger and emerged 40 ms earlier, they carried remarkably similar signals about motion direction in the two hemifields, with comparable direction selectivity and similar direction preferences. This similarity was also apparent around the time of the comparison between the current and remembered stimulus because both ipsilateral and contralateral responses showed similar signals reflecting the remembered direction. However, despite availability in the LPFC of motion information from across the visual field, these "comparison effects" required for the comparison stimuli to appear at the same retinal location. This strict dependence on spatial overlap of the comparison stimuli suggests participation of neurons with localized receptive fields in the comparison process. These results suggest that while LPFC incorporates many key aspects of the information arriving from sensory neurons residing in opposite hemispheres, it continues relying on the interactions with these neurons at the time of generating signals leading to successful perceptual decisions. Visual decisions often involve comparisons of sequential visual motion that can appear at any location in the visual field. We show that during such comparisons, the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) contains accurate representation of visual motion from across the visual field, supplied by motion processing neurons. However, at the time of comparison, LPFC neurons can only use this information to compute the differences between the stimuli, if stimuli appear at the same retinal location, implicating neurons with localized receptive fields in the comparison process. These findings show that sensory comparisons rely on the interactions between LPFC and sensory neurons that not only supply sensory signals but also actively participate in the comparison of these signals at the time of the decision.

Common Rules Guide Comparisons of Speed and Direction of Motion in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

When a monkey needs to decide whether motion direction of one stimulus is the same or different as that of another held in working memory, neurons in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) faithfully represent the motion directions being evaluated and contribute to their comparison. Here, we examined whether DLPFC neurons are more generally involved in other types of sensory comparisons. Such involvement would support the existence of generalized sensory comparison mechanisms within DLPFC, shedding light on top-down influences this region is likely to provide to the upstream sensory neurons during comparison tasks. We recorded activity of individual neurons in the DLPFC while monkeys performed a memory-guided decision task in which the important dimension was the speed of two sequentially presented moving random-dot stimuli. We found that many neurons, both narrow-spiking putative local interneurons and broad-spiking putative pyramidal output cells, were speed-selective, with tuning reminiscent of that observed in the motion processing middle temporal (MT) cortical area. Throughout the delay, broad-spiking neurons were more active, showing anticipatory rate modulation and transient periods of speed selectivity. During the comparison stimulus, responses of both cell types were modulated by the speed of the first stimulus, and their activity was highly predictive of the animals' behavioral report. These results are similar to those found for comparisons of motion direction, suggesting the existence of generalized neural mechanisms in the DLPFC subserving the comparison of sensory signals.

Memory-Guided Sensory Comparisons in the Prefrontal Cortex: Contribution of Putative Pyramidal Cells and Interneurons

Comparing two stimuli that occur at different times demands the coordination of bottom-up and top-down processes. It has been hypothesized that the dorsolateral prefrontal (PFC) cortex, the likely source of top-down cortical influences, plays a key role in such tasks, contributing to both maintenance and sensory comparisons. We examined this hypothesis by recording from the PFC of monkeys comparing directions of two moving stimuli, S1 and S2, separated by a memory delay. We determined the contribution of the two principal cell types to these processes by classifying neurons into broad-spiking (BS) putative pyramidal cells and narrow-spiking (NS) putative local interneurons. During the delay, BS cells were more likely to exhibit anticipatory modulation and represent the remembered direction. While this representation was transient, appearing at different times in different neurons, it weakened when direction was not task relevant, suggesting its utility. During S2, both putative cell types showed comparison-related activity modulations. These modulations were of two types, each carried by different neurons, which either preferred trials with stimuli moving in the same direction or trials with stimuli of different directions. These comparison effects were strongly correlated with choice, suggesting their role in circuitry underlying decision making. These results provide the first demonstration of distinct contributions made by principal cell types to memory-guided perceptual decisions. During sensory stimulation both cell types represent behaviorally relevant stimulus features contributing to comparison and decision-related activity. However in the absence of sensory stimulation, putative pyramidal cells dominated, carrying information about the elapsed time and the preceding direction.

Representation of comparison signals in cortical area MT during a delayed direction discrimination task

Visually guided behavior often involves decisions that are based on evaluating stimuli in the context of those observed previously. Such decisions are made by monkeys comparing two consecutive stimuli, sample and test, moving in the same or opposite directions. We examined whether responses in the motion processing area MT during the comparison phase of this task (test) are modulated by the direction of the preceding stimulus (sample). This modulation, termed comparison signal, was measured by comparing responses to identical test stimuli on trials when it was preceded by sample moving in the same direction (S-trials) with trials when it was preceded by sample moving in a different direction (D-trials). The test always appeared in the neuron's receptive field (RF), whereas sample could appear in the RF or in the contralateral visual field (remote sample). With sample in-RF, we found three types of modulation carried by different sets of neurons: early suppression on S-trials and late enhancement, one on S-trials, and the other on D-trials. Under these conditions, many neurons with and without comparison effects exhibited significant, choice-related activity. Response modulation was also present following the remote sample, even though the information about its direction could only reach MT indirectly via top-down influences. However, unlike on trials with in-RF sample, these signals were dominated by response suppression, shedding light on the contribution of top-down influences to the comparison effects. These results demonstrate that during the task requiring monkeys to compare two directions of motion, MT responses during the comparison phase of this task reflect similarities and differences between the two stimuli, suggesting participation in sensory comparisons. The nature of these signals provides insights into the operation of bottom-up and top-down influences involved in this process.

Brain Mechanisms Supporting Discrimination of Sensory Features of Pain: A New Model

Pain can be very intense or only mild, and can be well localized or diffuse. To date, little is known as to how such distinct sensory aspects of noxious stimuli are processed by the human brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a delayed match-to-sample task, we show that discrimination of pain intensity, a nonspatial aspect of pain, activates a ventrally directed pathway extending bilaterally from the insular cortex to the prefrontal cortex. This activation is distinct from the dorsally directed activation of the posterior parietal cortex and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that occurs during spatial discrimination of pain. Both intensity and spatial discrimination tasks activate highly similar aspects of the anterior cingulate cortex, suggesting that this structure contributes to common elements of the discrimination task such as the monitoring of sensory comparisons and response selection. Together, these results provide the foundation for a new model of pain in which bidirectional dorsal and ventral streams preferentially amplify and process distinct sensory features of noxious stimuli according to top-down task demands.

Evidence for Poisson processes in change detection

Comparisons between two stimuli (e.g., "which stimulus was louder?") and change detection ("same or different?") are often assumed to operate on the same decision basis. In the Gaussian signal detection theory, each of the two stimuli to be compared is transformed into a number, and the comparison is then made between these two numbers. If both stimuli are well above absolute threshold, the numbers to be compared have to be large, which motivates the use of normal distributions. The present study tests this assumption by measuring same-different ROC curves for the detection of small changes in the intensity of sinusoids. In contrast to previous studies, change detection was measured not only when the possible direction of change was a priori unknown, but also in two conditions where changes had a fixed direction. The obtained ROCs are asymmetric. This points to Poisson processes with low means. Moreover, the sensitivity to increments was significantly higher than the sensitivity to decrements. The results put into question the Gaussian theory of sensory comparisons and change detection.

Consumer Sensory Analysis of Organically and Conventionally Grown Vegetables

Consumers of organically grown fruits and vegetables often believe that these products taste better than conventional produce. However, comparison of produce from supermarket shelves does not permit adequate assessment of this consumer perception, given potentially confounding cultivar and environmental effects. We used replicated side-by-side plots to produce organic and conventional vegetables for consumer sensory studies. In one test, red loose leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, and mustard greens, grown organically and conventionally, were evaluated for overall liking as well as for intensity of flavor and bitterness. Another consumer test was conducted comparing organically and conventionally grown tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Overall, organically and conventionally grown vegetables did not show significant differences in consumer liking or consumer-perceived sensory quality. The only exception was in tomatoes where the conventionally produced tomato was rated as having significantly stronger flavor than the organically produced tomato. However, overall liking was the same for both organic and conventional samples. As conventional tomatoes also were scored marginally significantly higher in ripeness and a positive correlation was found between ratings of flavor intensity and ripeness, the flavor difference observed could not be simply ascribed to the contrasting growing conditions. Consumer panelists in both tests considered organic produce to be healthier (72%) and more environmentally friendly (51%) than conventional produce, while 28% considered organic produce to have better taste. Covariance analysis indicated that consumer demographics affected sensory comparisons of organic and conventional lettuce and cucumbers. Future study is needed to substantiate the influence of segmentation of consumers on their preference for organic food.

Les ignames (Dioscorea spp.) de Madagascar : espèces endémiques et formes introduites ; diversité, perception, valeur nutritionnelle et systèmes de gestion durable

The yams (Dioscorea spp.) of Madagascar : wild endemic and cultivated species ; diversity, perception, nutritional value, and sustainable management. — Endemic and introduced species of Malagasy yams (Dioscorea spp.) have been studied in the dry western area (Menabe central, near Morondava) where diversity is high, taking into account the occurrence of new species recently described. A comparison with a humid area of the eastern slopes of the country (around Brickaville) shows a striking difference in terms of diversity. However, in the humid area, the cultivated yams (especially Dioscorea alata) introduced by the fi rst Indo-Malay settlers are abundant in shifting cultivations, together with the wild species, and the various cultivars have been maintained thanks to a sociocultural system that implies an obligation of replanting the head of the tuber after cropping. Such an agro-ecosystem has a global production of the same order of magnitude as those of central Africa. Densities of the different species of yams have been measured on plots of the study areas. The sustainable utilization of the various yam species may differ, especially in the dry area, where regeneration occurs when pieces of broken tubers are left after harvesting, and the soil is subject to important restructuration due to frequent digging of holes for cropping. Local knowledge and traditions related to yams have been studied in villages of the two study areas. The yam tubers have been analysed to determine nutritional value, and comparative tests related to taste (hedonic value) conducted in various places, including Antananarivo, for cross-cultural and sensory comparisons. The results of this study, implying a possible introduction of new cultivated yam species, are discussed in terms of species differentiation in various bioclimatic areas and according to the specificity of the agro-ecosystem.

(186) Fresh-cut Chunks of a New Orange-fleshed Melon Genotype: Analytical and Sensory Comparisons to Its Inbred Parents, and to Commercial Cantaloupe and Green-fleshed Honeydew Harvested in Winter

A new hybrid orange-fleshed netted melon has been bred specifically for use by the fresh-cut industry in winter. Quality characteristics of fresh-cut chunks from the hybrid were compared to those of its parental lines and to commercial cantaloupe and honeydew fruits available in winter. Female parent and hybrid chunks had higher soluble solids content (SSC) and firmness, and lower aromatic volatile concentrations versus that of the male parent. Hybrid chunks also had higher SSC (&gt;3%) and were firmer (&gt;5 N) than commercial fruit, and showed no appreciable differences in aromatic volatile concentrations to commercial honeydew or in surface color to commercial cantaloupe. Consumers liked the flavor, texture, sweetness, and overall eating quality of the hybrid chunks better than those of its inbred parents and winter honeydew and as well as or better than that of winter cantaloupe. Hybrid fruit stored 5 weeks at 1 °C under modified atmospheric conditions, then fresh-cut and stored 14 d in air at 5 °C maintained good quality (firmness = 51 N, SSC = 12.2%, surface pH = 6.0, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid concentrations = 14 and 182 mg·kg-1, respectively), and showed no signs of tissue translucency or surface pitting despite microbial populations approaching 8 log cfu·g-1. The results indicate that the orange-fleshed hybrid melon is a promising new melon type for fresh-cut processing, especially during the winter.

Compositional and Sensory Comparisons between Normal- and High-Oleic Peanuts

The high-oleic-acid trait improves the oxidative stability of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) and their products. The explicit effect of the trait on sensory quality, particularly on off-flavors associated with oil rancidity, has not been well documented. To assess the effect of the trait on off-flavors, data from two independent databases were analyzed to compare sensory quality and composition in normal- versus high-oleic peanut genotypes. In data collected using a sensory panel in the Department of Food Science at North Carolina State University, there were small differences between near-isogenic lines for intensities of the roasted peanut, astringent, over-roast, and nutty attributes, with the high-oleic lines exhibiting slightly greater intensities of those attributes. There were no differences for off-flavors such as fruity, painty, stale, moldy, or petroleum. In data collected from the multistate Uniform Peanut Performance Test and evaluated by a panel in the USDA-ARS Market Quality and Handling Research Unit (MQHRU) at Raleigh, NC, there were differences in chemical composition associated with the high-oleic trait, including differences in oil content, tocopherols, and carbohydrates in addition to the expected differences in fatty acid contents. There were small decreases in the intensities of the sensory attributes cardboard and painty associated with the high-oleic trait in the MQHRU data when all high-oleic lines were compared with all normal-oleic lines. Comparison of the near-isogenic pair NC 7 and N00090ol showed differences in oil and glucose contents, but not in sensory attributes. The high-oleic trait does not appear to have a major impact on sensory quality on average, although there were individual instances in which the trait was associated with shifts in sensory attribute intensities that may be perceptible to consumers.

Differences in Our Sensory Worlds

People use intensity descriptors to compare sensory differences: “This tastes strong to me; is it strong to you?” These comparisons are deceptive because they assume that intensity descriptors like strong denote the same absolute perceived intensities to everyone. This assumption is false. Visual-analogue and category scales are labeled with intensity descriptors, and whenever there are systematic differences across groups in the absolute perceived intensity denoted by these descriptors, across-group comparisons will be invalid. We have explored this problem using studies of taste perception. When intensity descriptors are falsely assumed to have universal meaning, real differences can be blunted, abolished, or reversed. One solution to this problem is to express sensations of interest relative to an unrelated standard; any variation in this standard will be equivalent across groups, allowing valid group comparisons. The importance of detecting and correcting these measurement errors is not limited to sensory comparisons, but applies to hedonic comparisons as well.

A 2-dimensional extension of the Bradley–Terry model for paired comparisons

The Bradley–Terry model is widely and often beneficially used to rank objects from paired comparisons. The underlying assumption that makes ranking possible is the existence of a latent linear scale of merit or equivalently of a kind of transitiveness of the preference. However, in some situations such as sensory comparisons of products, this assumption can be unrealistic. In these contexts, although the Bradley–Terry model appears to be significantly interesting, the linear ranking does not make sense. Our aim is to propose a 2-dimensional extension of the Bradley–Terry model that accounts for interactions between the compared objects. From a methodological point of view, this proposition can be seen as a multidimensional scaling approach in the context of a logistic model for binomial data. Maximum likelihood is investigated and asymptotic properties are derived in order to construct confidence ellipses on the diagram of the 2-dimensional scores. It is shown by an illustrative example based on real sensory data on how to use the 2-dimensional model to inspect the lack-of-fit of the Bradley–Terry model.

Characteristics of banana fruit from nearby organic versus conventional plantations: A case study

SummaryThis case study reports the post-harvest qualities of conventionally versus organically grown banana fruit from nearby plantations in the Dominican Republic. The comparison involved six repeated harvests over the transition from cooler to hotter seasons. Green mature Cavendish ‘Grande Naine’ banana fruit were shipped to the UK. They were triggered to ripen with ethylene gas and kept under simulated retail conditions. Fruit mass, colour, firmness and flavour parameters were measured every second day over 12 d of shelf life. Sensory comparisons were conducted on four of the six harvest times. Significant differences (P<0.05) in measured quality attributes between conventionally and organically grown fruit were few and marginal. Moreover, any differences were inconsistent across harvest-times and during shelf life. Thus, organically and conventionally grown product had almost identical qualities. Sensory comparison confirmed that there was no flavour difference. This case study provides data that challenge a general perception that organic bananas have better flavour than conventional bananas.

Sensory Comparison of a Soy Enhanced Chocolate Candy and Regular Candy by Children Age 9-16

Increasing soy in the American diet has been recommended as means to lower cholesterol. The objective of this study was the comparison of a soy enhanced reduced fat chocolate peanut butter candy and a usually formulated chocolate peanut butter candy. Soy Protein Isolate (SPI) was added to the normal formulation of peanut butter filling for a chocolate candy product. The SPI functioned as a fat substitute by simple displacement. This resulted in a product five grams lower in fat, five grams higher in protein, with seventy-five fewer calories and an increase in calcium to 213 mg. Sensory comparisons between the two products was conducted among youth participating in a take your child to work program at Du Pont Protein Technologies Incorporated, who were frequent snack eaters and chocolate consumers. Results of the sensory testing indicated with an ANOVA test that the overall likings were not found to be significantly different between the soy enhanced and control candy products. The sensory indices used in testing were: liking of appearance, liking of overall flavor, liking filling flavor, liking chocolate flavor, liking texture, amount of filling and amount of coating. This reformulated product was accepted by youth as an equal to the already marketed test product. Snacks and baked goods contribute a majority proportion of fat intake in children. Most of these snacks are procured from vending machines. Formulating these snack products to a healthier level raises the feasibility of reducing fat in the diet of youths.

Patient preferences and sensory comparisons of three intranasal corticosteroids for the treatment of allergic rhinitis

Although they have comparable safety and efficacy profiles, different intranasal corticosteroids possess different sensory/chemical properties that can be easily differentiated by patients, and which may influence their preference and compliance. We sought to compare patient assessments of sensory attributes of three intranasal corticosteroid sprays: triamcinolone acetonide aqueous (TAA), fluticasone propionate (FP), and mometasone furoate (MF). In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 95 patients with allergic rhinitis rated 14 sensory items (100-point scales), product preference, and likelihood of compliance with treatment. Immediately after administration, compared with MF, TAA was rated as having significantly better comfort during administration, less irritation, less odor strength, preferred odor, more moistness of nose/throat, milder taste (all P < or = 0.001), and preferred taste (P < or = 0.01). Compared with FP, TAA was rated as having significantly less odor strength, preferred odor (both P < or = 0.001), more moistness of nose/throat (P < or = 0.01), and milder taste (P < or = 0.05). Two minutes after application, TAA was rated as having less aftertaste than FP (P < or = 0.01) or MF (P < or = 0.001), and produced significantly less irritation (FP P < or = 0.05; MF P < or = 0.01). Of patients, 54.7% said they would prefer a prescription of TAA over one for MF (24.2%; P = 0.001) or FP (21.1%; P = 0.001). More patients indicated that they would be more compliant with treatment if given the TAA prescription (67.4%) than if given a prescription with FP (54.7%) or MF (49.5%). Several of the TAA sensory attributes were preferred over those of MF and FP. Patient preference may play a role in enhancing treatment compliance. Such findings indicate that TAA nasal spray may be a better choice than MF or FP in the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF TROPICAL WINES FROM ALOE VERA (Aloe barbadensis) AND CASHEW APPLES (Anacardium occidentale L.) IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

The production and acceptability of wines produced from Aloe vera leaves (Aloe barbadensis Mill) and cashew apples (Anacardium occidentale L.) were investigated. Sensory paired comparisons between A. vera sweet wines (8.6-8.65°Brix; 10.60-10.63% alcohol) with A. vera dry wines (3.20-3.30°Brix; 10.35-10.48% alcohol) and cashew sweet wines (9.30-9.50 °Brix, 11.86-11.90 % alcohol) with cashew dry wines (4.10-4.30°Brix; 11.59-11.69% alcohol) indicated a difference (p<0.05) in consumer acceptance as an estimate of the market potential. A market segmented preference existed for dry wines by the North American tourists who visit the British Virgin Islands and for sweet wines by the Caribbean consumers. Based on a 5-pt hedonic-score and purchase intent interval scale, both A. vera and cashew wines were ‘neither liked nor disliked’ to ‘liked a little’ and with purchase intent of probably buy to maybe/maybe not. Clarity of wines needed improvement based on percent light transmission.