Descriptive Sensory Profiling Research Articles

Consumer preferences of artificial and natural flavours: a case in soft ice cream

Consumers have a high awareness regarding the additives used in their food products. The use of artificial and natural flavours as additives in a food product is debatable and it will directly impact sensory attributes and consumer preferences. The objective of this study was to investigate the different sensory profiles and consumer acceptability of soft ice cream with different types of vanilla flavours (artificial vs. natural). In addition, liking segmentations based on gender and age group were also investigated. Descriptive sensory profiles (n=10), differentiation testing (n=40), and consumer acceptability test (n=162) were determined. There were no significant differences for sensory attributes except for texture (p= 0.001). The differentiation testing disclosed no differences between artificial and natural vanilla flavours (p=0.09). However, soft ice cream made with the artificial vanilla flavour has a significantly higher liking (p< 0.01) compared to the natural flavour. There were no significant differences in consumer acceptability levels based on gender and age-group segmentations. This study can be used as a primary reference to select appropriate flavours of artificial and natural in a certain food product.

How does the inclusion of a companion forage alongside perennial ryegrass influence production performance, sensory perception and consumer liking of lamb meat?

In sheep production systems, diet type is an important factor affecting the eating quality of the meat produced. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of binary swards on the slaughter performance, descriptive sensory profile, consumer liking and instrumental texture of lamb meat. Five dietary treatments were investigated, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG), PRG plus white clover (Trifolium repens L.; PRG+WC), PRG plus red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; PRG+RC), PRG plus chicory (Chicorium intybus L.; PRG+Chic) and PRG plus plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.; PRG+Plan). Post – weaning sixty Texel sired crossbred lambs (n = 12 per dietary treatment) were selected from the main cohort of lambs born in 2022 and further balanced for sex and reared litter size. The M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) was obtained from each lamb post-slaughter. Meat samples were analysed by a trained sensory panel, a consumer panel as well as Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) measurements. All data were analysed using a linear mixed model PROC MIXED in SAS. Mean slaughter weights of 46.0 ± 0.36 kg and cold carcass weights of 22.2 ± 0.51 kg were achieved with no differences observed across dietary treatments (P > 0.05). On average, lambs were 217 d of age at slaughter. Lambs finished on PRG and PRG+Plan had similar growth rates, however binary mixtures containing PRG plus any one of WC, RC (P < 0.01) or Chic (P < 0.05) increased average daily gain (ADG) and reduced the number of days required for lambs to reach slaughter (P < 0.05), relative to lambs grazing the PRG monoculture. Meat from PRG+Plan lambs was scored lower by the trained sensory panel for initial tenderness (P < 0.001) and overall tenderness (P < 0.001) when compared to meat from any other dietary treatment. Consumers scored meat from PRG or PRG+WC lambs higher for tenderness (P < 0.05) and flavour (P < 0.01) in comparison to meat produced from PRG+Plan lambs. Relative to meat from PRG+Plan lambs, PRG, PRG+WC and PRG+Chic lamb meat scored higher for overall liking (P < 0.01) when assessed by the consumer panel. Results show that companion forage inclusion increased lamb growth performance in the post-weaning period thus reducing age at slaughter. However, findings suggest that the addition of plantain to the grazed sward may negatively affect the eating quality of lamb meat, highlighting the need to consider diet type in tandem with meat eating quality when selecting finishing systems for pasture fed lambs.

Oat-based milk alternatives: the influence of physical and chemical properties on the sensory profile.

Oat-based milk alternatives (OMAs) have become increasingly popular, perhaps due to their low allergenicity and preferred sensory attributes when compared to other milk alternatives. They may also provide health benefits from unique compounds; avenanthramides, avenacosides, and the dietary fibre beta-glucan. This has led to a variety of commercial options becoming available. Being a fairly new product, in comparison to other plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs), means little research has been undertaken on the sensory profile, and how it is influenced by the physical and chemical properties. This study investigated the sensory, physical and chemical profiles of current commercially available OMAs, that varied in fortification, use of stabilisers, and oat content. The volatile compounds and their respective aromas were analysed using solid phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for identification of avenanthramides and avenacosides. Particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) were analysed using a Mastersizer and Zetasizer, respectively, with colour analysis carried out using a colourimeter, and viscosity measurements using a rheometer. Descriptive sensory profiling was used to assess the impact on the sensory characteristics of the different samples and the sensory data acquired were correlated with the instrumental data. Samples with smaller particle size appeared whiter-both instrumentally and perceptually. The only clear plastic packaged product differed substantially in volatile profile from all other products, with a higher abundance of many volatile compounds, and high overall perceived aroma. Avenanthramides and avenacosides were present in all samples, but differed significantly in abundance between them. The results suggested smaller particle size leads to whiter colour, whilst differences in processing and packaging may contribute to significant differences in aroma. Astringency did not differ significantly between samples, suggesting that the variation in the concentrations of avenacosides and avenanthramides were below noticeable differences.

Evaluating the sensory properties of hybrid (meat and plant‐based) burger patties

AbstractConsumer interest in alternative plant‐based foods is growing, including products where plant proteins are isolated and reformulated to mimic meat. This study aims to investigate the fundamental changes in sensorial (textural) properties between meat and plant proteins using a hybrid protein burger matrix. Burger patties were used as a model, prepared with a range of protein composition (beef: plant‐based protein; 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) with identical added fat (17%) and at two salt (0 and 0.6%) contents. Conventional sensory descriptive profiling elicited 21 sensory attributes and profiles of samples were obtained to explore relationship(s) with composition. Early‐stage oral processing texture attributes were well‐differentiated across the sample space, while less discrimination was observed across samples for latter stage mastication texture attributes. Animal meat content increased scores for saltiness and flavor intensity indicating that plant‐based meat analogues require a higher salt content to achieve similar levels of salt and flavor perception. These findings provide key insights into the impact of meat and/or plant‐based protein composition on sensory properties in a hybrid burger patty model system. Future work should consider the mechanical properties of such products with the objective of finetuning ingredients and processing to obtain meat analogues with desirable sensorial attributes.

Masking off-flavors of faba bean protein concentrate and extrudate: The role of in situ and in vitro produced dextran

This study produced dextran both in situ by fermentation with Weissella confusa A16 and in vitro by isolated W. confusa A16 dextransucrase enzyme, and investigated its effects on the flavor properties of faba bean protein concentrate (FPC) and the corresponding extrudates prepared by high moisture extrusion. Descriptive sensory profiling revealed that the FPC and extrudates had an intense pea odor and flavor, bitter taste, and astringency. Partial least squares regression analysis suggested that the pea flavor was related to the presence of lipid-oxidation products such as hexanal, heptanal, and nonanal, whereas the bitterness and astringency were likely linked to vicine, convicine, condensed tannins, and arginine. Fermentation under optimized conditions resulted in low acid formation and sufficient dextran production (1.2% end-product basis), which was effective in masking pea and bitter off-notes and enhancing pleasant flavors in FPC (sweet and fruity) and extrudates (sweet and umami). The sweetness was related to fructose produced during fermentation, and the fruity odor was linked to the generated isoamyl isovalerate and ethyl acetate. The masking effect on pea and bitter off-notes was further confirmed by adding enzymatically synthesized dextran in FPC (1.2% dextran) and extrudates (1% dextran). Overall, fermentation with W. confusa A16 or addition of the enzymatically produced dextran showed potential for masking off-flavors of faba bean-based ingredients and extruded meat alternatives. Furthermore, the fermentation method was associated with nutritional benefits (reduction of anti-nutritional factors, e.g., condensed tannins and verbascose) and the generation of flavor compounds/precursors (e.g., esters and free amino acids).

Bringing back a forgotten legume-Sensory profiles of Australian native wattleseeds reveal potential for novel food applications.

Documented as one of the oldest living civilizations, there is now evidence that Indigenous communities in Australia followed a sustainable lifestyle with well-designed agricultural practices and adequate physical activity. Commonly known as wattleseeds in Australia, unique cultivars of Acacia have been consumed by Indigenous Australians for over 60,000 years. This research used descriptive sensory profiling to develop a lexicon for the aroma and flavor profiles of four wattleseed species before and after being subjected to different processing techniques. The processing methods selected were pressure cooking, dry roasting, wet roasting, and malting. The species included were Acacia kempeana, Acacia adsurgens, Acacia colei, and Acacia victoriae. Sensory differences were observed between the different cultivars as well as between the different food processing techniques. Results show that wattleseed species diversity is a key driver in determining the aroma profile, while taste profiles are modified by the type of processing method applied. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides foundational knowledge on these culturally significant seeds, supporting practical opportunities to diversify the uses of wattleseeds in food products.

Quality assessment of commercial Bulgarian brined cheese, purchased in the commercial network

Abstract. Three types of Bulgarian brined cow cheese, produced according to the Bulgarian State Standard 15:2010 (BDS), and five types, according to individual cheese makers' firm technological production instruction (TPI), have been studied. Salt content, dry matter, titratable acidity, and fat content have been determined. Using the gas chromatographic method, we have identified the fatty acid composition according to ISO 12966-1. A descriptive sensory profiling test have been conducted for each sample to determine the studied parameters such as appearance, taste, smell, and consistency. Some of the TPI samples have been characterized by a high concentration of salt (% in the total mass), a low percentage of dry matter, and high water content. Only one of the examined samples, according to TPI, met the criteria for acidity according to BDS. The gas chromatographic analysis showed an increased content of palmitic acid in one of the TPI samples. For the examined samples of white brine cow cheese, labeled as produced according to the BDS standard, the obtained results were close to or fully compliant with the standard, with the exception of the titratable acidity in one of the samples. For the samples produced by TPI, the obtained results for these samples are not inferior to those produced by BDS.

Instrumental Measurement, Sensory Descriptive Analysis and Consumer Acceptability of “Kaya” Supplemented with Pumpkin Puree

Kaya toast is a common choice for traditional Malaysian home breakfasts. Kaya, a spread made from eggs, sugar, coconut milk, and sometimes edible starch, is notable for its elevated levels of fat and sugar, contributing to its calorie content. In order to improve its nutritional content, pumpkin puree was supplemented into the kaya formulations. The objectives of the present study were to determine the sensory descriptive profile and consumer acceptability of kaya supplemented with different percentages of pumpkin puree (control: 0%, F1: 20%, F2: 40% and F3: 60%), as well as to evaluate the relationship between the instruments, descriptive and consumer acceptability data. The quality of kaya was evaluated by 10 trained (quantitative descriptive analysis) and 40 untrained (consumer testing) panelists. For instrumental measurements, the kaya was evaluated for its colour, texture and observed under optical microscope. The instrumental data of colour and texture were in good agreement to the one evaluated by the trained panelists. The colour of the kaya became more orangey (decreasing L* values and increasing a* values) with an increase in the amount of pumpkin puree. A higher amount of pumpkin puree resulted in a rougher, firmer, less sticky and less spreadable kaya. The kaya made with 60% pumpkin puree exhibited the softest texture due to the absence of eggs. Among the formulations, kaya supplemented with 20% pumpkin puree was rated the highest acceptance by consumer, thus indicates that consumer prefer kaya that quite similar to control.

HS–SPME–GC–MS profiling and sensory analyses of juices from red-fleshed ‘Weirouge’ apples made with innovative and conventional dejuicing systems

AbstractVolatiles, descriptive sensory profiles as well as consumer acceptance and preference of juices from red-fleshed ‘Weirouge’ apples produced in 2019 and 2020 with three different dejuicing systems were assessed. HS–SPME–GC–MS analyses revealed differences in the profiles of volatiles in juices processed in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere with an innovative spiral filter press as compared to those obtained using conventional systems, i.e., horizontal filter press and decanter. A total of 49 volatiles was tentatively assigned and permitted a clustering of the samples according to vintage and processing technology by multivariate statistics. Tentative markers to differentiate the individual samples were deduced from the multivariate models. In both years, each three 1,3-dioxanes and C6 alcohols were revealed as discriminative markers of horizontal filter pressed juices. Descriptive sensory analysis by trained panelists revealed higher intensity scores of ‘oxidized’ and ‘apple-like’ orthonasal odors in juices produced by horizontal filter press and decanter as compared to those obtained by spiral filter press. The visual appearance of the spiral filter pressed juices was significantly higher rated compared to those obtained by conventional pressing systems as revealed by an untrained consumer panel (n = 65). In contrast, both odor and taste were lower rated, ultimately resulting in a clear-cut higher acceptance and preference of the decanter-made juices, followed by those obtained by horizontal and spiral filter press.

Characterisation of gluten‐free breads made with sorghum, teff, and yacon flour using rapid sensory characterisation methodologies

SummaryReplacing gluten‐containing flours with gluten‐free ingredients is a challenge for the food industry due to the technological properties of this protein. This work aimed to evaluate, through the acceptance test, Flash Profile, and Just About Right (JAR), gluten‐free bread formulations made with sorghum, teff, and yacon flours. Through experimental design, nine formulations were submitted to acceptance test, which provided the formulation optimised by the overall acceptance scores of the samples. In the subsequent trials, four formulations were evaluated, F1 (100% sorghum), F2 (100% teff), F3 (100% yacon), and F4 (optimised formulation, with 33.33% of each flour). F1 was described by bread yeast odour, crumb texture, and salty taste. F2 presented a salty taste and bread flavour. F3 was characterised by softness, crumb texture, moisture, chewiness, and porosity. F4 was described by pleasant aroma, yeast odour, sweet taste, crumb texture, and porosity, and being the best evaluated in terms of overall acceptance. The descriptive sensory profile of the formulations highlighted attributes that enabled the use of sorghum, teff, and yacon in the preparation of gluten‐free bread and highlighted that the mixture of the three in the optimised formulation positively influences the sensory characteristics of the product, improving flavour, taste, and texture.

Establishing the linkage between eba's instrumental and sensory descriptive profiles and their correlation with consumer preferences: implications for cassava breeding.

Gari and eba, forms of cassava semolina, are mainly consumed in Nigeria and other West African countries. This study aimed to define the critical quality traits of gari and eba, to measure their heritability, to define medium and high throughput instrumental methods for use by breeders, and to link the traits with consumer preferences. The definition of a food product's profiles, including its biophysical, sensory, and textural qualities, and the identification of the characteristics that determine its acceptability, are important if new genotypes are to be adopted successfully. Eighty cassava genotypes and varieties (three different sets) from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research farm were used for the study. Participatory processing and consumer testing data on different types of gari and eba products were integrated to prioritize the traits preferred by processors and consumers. The color, sensory, and instrumental textural properties of these products were determined using standard analytical methods, and standard operating protocols (SOPs) developed by the RTBfoods project (Breeding Roots, Tubers, and Banana Products for End-user Preferences, https://rtbfoods.cirad.fr). There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between instrumental hardness and sensory hardness and between adhesiveness and sensory moldability. Principal component analysis showed broad discrimination amongst the cassava genotypes and the association of the genotypes concerning the color and textural properties. The color properties of gari and eba, together with instrumental measures of hardness and cohesiveness, are important quantitative discriminants of cassava genotypes. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Subzero Temperature Storage to Preserve the Quality Attributes of Veiled Virgin Olive Oil

Unfiltered olive oils (UO) have gained popularity in the global market, but they lose their quality characteristics faster than filtered oils (FO). In this work, refrigeration and freezing temperatures were explored to maintain UO quality features during storage. A full factorial design was applied to an UO and to the same oil after filtration to evaluate the effect of storage temperature (room temperature, 4 °C and -20 °C) and freezing speed (slow-freezing, in the freezer at -20 °C and fast-freezing, in a bath of liquid nitrogen). Official quality parameters, polar and nonpolar phenolic compounds, oxidative stability index, volatile compounds and descriptive sensory profile were measured periodically over 24 months of storage in the dark. Storage temperature influenced the quality of both UO and FO, but in different ways. At non-freezing temperature, UO experienced a severe decrease in its sensory quality compared to FO, mainly due to the hydrolysis of secoiridoids and degradation of the volatile fraction, but storage at -20 °C allowed to effectively preserve UO quality traits, thus resulting as a suitable strategy to increase the shelf-life of UO to satisfy the demand of consumers for this particular product. The results showed that slow-freezing was the most appropriate method for freezing.

Design of a Sensorial-Instrumental Correlation Methodology for a Category of Cosmetic Products: O/W Emulsions

The validation of a cosmetic product is performed by physical analyses and sensory assessment. However, the recruitment of panelists takes a long time and is expensive. Moreover, to apply the product on the skin, microbiology analyses and safety are required but may not be not enough to avoid inflammatory reaction on the skin. The solution could be the substitution of sensory evaluation by instrumental measurement to predict the sensory profile before the panel. For the study, thirteen different skin care emulsions based on their composition and texture were carried out simultaneously by 12 expert panelists with a quantitative descriptive sensory evaluation profile and by rheological and textural methods. A statistical methodology was the applied to find correlation trends between both data sets. The methodology confirmed that the correlation between sensory assessment and instrumental parameters is a good solution to save time. The multiple factor analysis (MFA) showed the correlation between firmness with no visual residue attribute and the cohesion with sticky 1 min, which are evident but this methodology could be used for finding more complex correlations not found in literature.

Influence of the ripening chamber’s geographical location on dry-cured Iberian ham’s key odorants

Olfactometric and sensory analyses have been applied to study the possible influence of the ripening chamber’s geographical location on the aroma sensory profiles and key odorants of Iberian ham. Dry-cured Iberian ham was obtained from 3 acorn-fed pigs and, for the first time, both of the participating production facilities, located in two different Andalusian municipalities with different altitudes above mean sea level, processed one of the two hind legs from each pig. The descriptive sensory profile of orthonasal and retronasal odours was determined by trained panellists, while odour-active compounds were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC/MS-O). The results obtained showed that, separately, both techniques enable Iberian ham samples to be differentiated by their ripening chamber’s geographical location. For sensory analysis, retronasal sensory analysis appeared to be the most suitable for this goal, highlighting the “meat broth odour” and “roasted nuts odour” descriptors which presented significant differences between geographical locations for samples from all pigs. Moreover, ripening chamber’s geographical location characteristics and the initial composition of the raw material seemed to influence the content of some odour-active compounds. The odour-active compound identified as octane/acetone and isobutanol were conditioned by the ripening chamber’s geographical location, while decanal/2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 1-undecanol, 2-furanmethanol and cis-2-nonenal were also influenced by the individual pig itself. This study showed that slight climatological differences due to the location of the ripening chamber seem to have somewhat of an influence on the aromatic profile.

Olive Oil Sensory Analysis as a Tool to Preserve and Valorize the Heritage of Centenarian Olive Trees.

In inland areas of Portugal and some regions of the Mediterranean basin, olive production is based on traditional olive groves, with low intensification, local cultivars, aged plants, and centenarian trees. These plants play a key role in the ecosystem, contributing to carbon sequestration and possessing a high genetic diversity, particularly important for selecting cultivars more resistant to climatic changes. Appreciation of the value of this genetic diversity implies genetic, morphological, and physicochemical characterization of centenarian trees, which is expensive and time-consuming. Sensory evaluation is also of utmost importance. Thus, in this study, centenarian olive trees were selected in the Côa Valley region, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The descriptive sensory profile of their extracted olive oils was established and used to cluster the oils, using hierarchical clustering analysis, and consequently the olive trees, into five groups with similar intensities of perceived olfactory–gustatory attributes. Each cluster revealed olive oils with unique sensory patterns, presumably due to similarities of the olive trees, confirming the potential of the proposed screening approach. The identification of sensorially homogeneous oil-tree groups would reduce the number of specimens needed for subsequent morphological, genetic, and chemical characterization, allowing a cost-effective and robust future evaluation procedure.

Descriptive Sensory Profile and Consumer Study Impact of Different Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners on the Descriptive, Temporal Profile, and Consumer Acceptance in a Peach Juice Matrix.

The study evaluated the effect of peach juice sweetened with sucrose, widely used non-nutritive sweeteners, the artificial sucralose, neotame blend, and the natural stevia extract with different rebaudioside A concentrations on the temporal and quantitative descriptive profile, and consumer acceptance of the beverage. The sensory profiling was determined by quantitative descriptive and time–intensity analyses. The results showed that the sweeteners neotame and sucralose present higher sweetening power, and the different rebaudioside A concentrations did not affect the sweetening power of the stevia extract. The samples sweetened with stevia with 40% and 95% of rebaudioside A were characterized by the sensory attributes bitter taste, bitter aftertaste, astringency, and black tea flavor, with a negative influence on the consumers’ acceptance. The different concentrations of rebaudioside A in stevia interfered substantially in the descriptors bitter taste and bitter aftertaste, showing that the higher the percentage of rebaudioside A, the lower bitterness of peach juice.

Descriptive sensory profiling of thandai using principal component analysis

Thandai being nutrient crammed pabulum is relished as a traditional milk-based beverage in India. Being indigenous drink, international and national level research work and the literature pertaining to the same is not available. Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate and characterize the sensory attributes of commercially available thandai using Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). QDA revealed statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in sensory attributes of thandai amongst the market samples. PCA identified three significant principal components that accounted for 93.01 per cent of the variation in the sensory data. Correlation matrix revealed many linear relationships between independent terms of sensory attributes.

Effect of Aging Vessel (Clay-Tinaja versus Oak Barrel) on the Volatile Composition, Descriptive Sensory Profile, and Consumer Acceptance of Red Wine

Consumers look for unique wines, offering pleasant experiences. Wine producers need to open new markets and are targeting countries with fewer traditions in drinking red and complex wines, such as Poland, Russia and Germany. The use of less popular aging vessels (e.g., clay-tinajas) will help in creating unique wines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the aging vessel on the volatile and sensory profiles and consumer acceptance of red wine in Spain and Poland (model of potential new markets). Three wines were studied: (i) wine A, aged in a clay-tinaja with non-permeable coating); (ii) wine B, aged in clay-tinaja without coating; and (iii) wine C, aged in oak barrels (control). The key families in the volatile profiles were esters (wines B and C) and organic acids and terpenes (wine A). Wine A was described as sour and bitter, wine B had a distinctive mineral note, and wine C had a complex profile with typical wood notes. Finally, wines C and A were the preferred ones for Spanish and Polish consumers, respectively. Clay-tinaja wine A can be a good option to introduce clay-tinaja wines in Polish and similar markets because it is a unique product and fulfills the sensory demands/habits of Polish consumers.

Sensory Characteristics of Male Impala (Aepyceros melampus) Meat, Produced under Varying Production Systems and Nutrition.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of three production systems (intensive, semi-extensive and extensive) with differing nutrition on the descriptive sensory and fatty acid profiles of sub-adult (±15–18 months old) male impala longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscles. The discriminant analysis plot showed that extensively produced impala had a sensory profile distinct from the intensive and semi-extensive system impala. Extensively produced impala had the highest sensory ratings for overall intensity, gamey, beef-like, herbaceous, and sweet-associated aroma and flavor of their meat. The intensive and semi-extensive system impala did not differ for most of the sensory attributes, except for higher ratings for gamey flavor, liver-like flavor, tenderness and mealiness, and lower ratings for residue found in semi-extensive system impala. The overall aroma and flavor intensities of impala meat in general had strong positive correlations with gamey, beef-like, herbaceous, and sweet-associated aromas and flavors; however, marketing should be adjusted depending on the nutrition received by the impala, to allow consumers to select their preferential sensory profile. Impala meat from all three production systems had low fat contents (<2%), and desirable fatty acid profiles.

Insights into Drivers of Liking for Avocado Pulp (Persea americana): Integration of Descriptive Variables and Predictive Modeling.

Trends in new food products focus on low-carbohydrate ingredients rich in healthy fats, proteins, and micronutrients; thus, avocado has gained worldwide attention. This study aimed to use predictive modeling to identify the potential sensory drivers of liking for avocado pulp by evaluating acceptability scores and sensory descriptive profiles of two commercial and five non-commercial cultivars. Macronutrient composition, instrumental texture, and color were also characterized. Trained panelists performed a descriptive profile of nineteen sensory attributes. Affective data from frequent avocado adult consumers (n = 116) were collected for predictive modeling of an external preference map (R2 = 0.98), which provided insight into sensory descriptors that drove preference for particular avocado pulps. The descriptive map explained 67.6% of the variance in sensory profiles. Most accepted pulps were from Hass and Colin V-33; the latter had sweet and green flavor notes. Descriptive flavor attributes related to liking were global impact, oily, and creamy. Sensory drivers of texture liking included creamy/oily, lipid residue, firmness, and cohesiveness. Instrumental stickiness was disliked and inversely correlated to dry-matter and lipids (r = −0.87 and −0.79, respectively). Color differences (∆Eab*) also contributed to dislike. Sensory-guided selection of avocado fruits and ingredients can develop products with high acceptability in breeding and industrialization strategies.