Personality traits and bitterness perception influence the liking and intake of pale ale style beers

Bitterness is classically considered undesirable in foods and beverages. Yet, widespread commercial success of beers (like Bitters in the UK or IPAs in the US) indicate bitterness is desirable for some consumers. Here, we tested whether personality traits influence beer liking and intake. Under laboratory conditions, beer consumers (n = 109) rated liking and intensity of 2 pale ales and a lager, and intensity of two bitter solutions (quinine, Tetralone®). Participants also completed intake and personality questionnaires (Sensation Seeking, Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward, and Food Involvement). A liking ratio for each beer was calculated from each participant’s liking for that specific beer and their total liking for all beers. Participants were classified as weekly, monthly, or yearly pale ale consumers using intake data. Using intensity ratings, personality measures, and other parameters, hierarchical linear regression was used to predict liking ratios, and logistic regression was used to predict beer intake frequency. A significant interaction between Sensation Seeking and quinine bitterness (p = 0.03) was found for the liking ratio of a pale ale. The interaction revealed liking of the pale ale increased with Sensation Seeking but only if quinine bitterness was also high. Intake models showed increased odds of frequent pale ale intake with greater quinine bitterness and lower liking for lager beer. These data suggest liking and intake of pale ales is positively related to Sensation Seeking and bitter taste perception. Contrary to findings in other bitter foods and beverages, the high bitterness found in pale ales may be desirable for some consumers.     

Modification of perceived beer bitterness intensity,character and temporal profile by hop aroma extract

The effect of hop aroma on perceived bitterness intensity, character and temporal profile of beer was investigated. A hop aroma extract was added at 3 levels (0, 245, 490 mg/L) to beers at low, medium and high bitterness. Beers were evaluated for perceived bitterness intensity, harshness, roundedness and linger by a trained panel using a rank-rating technique at each bitterness level, with and without nose clips. The use of nose clips enabled the olfactory aspect to be decoupled from taste and mouthfeel aspects of bitterness perception. Results showed significant modification of perceived bitterness in beer by hop aroma depending on the inherent level of bitterness. These modifications were mainly driven by olfaction – in an example of taste-aroma interactions, as well as certain tactile sensations elicited by the hop aroma extract in the oral cavity. At low bitterness, beers with hop aroma added were perceived as more bitter, and of ‘rounded’ bitterness character relative to those without hop aroma. When judges used nose clips, this effect was completely eliminated but the sample was perceived to have a ‘harsh’ bitterness character. Conversely, at high bitterness, even when nose clips were used, judges still perceived beers containing hop aroma to be more bitter. These increases in bitterness perception with nose clips indicates the stimulating of other receptors, e.g. trigeminal receptors by hop aroma extract, which in tandem with the high bitterness, cause perceptual interactions enhancing bitterness intensity and also affecting bitterness character. Bitterness character attributes such as ‘round’ and ‘harsh’ were found to significantly depend on bitterness and aroma levels, with the second level of aroma addition (245 mg/L) giving a ‘rounded’ bitterness in low bitterness beers but ‘harsh’ bitterness in high bitterness beers. The impact of aroma on temporal bitterness was also confirmed with time-intensity measurements, and found to be mostly significant at the highest level of hop aroma addition (490 mg/L) in low bitterness beers. These findings represent a significant step forward in terms of understanding bitterness flavour perception and the wider impact of hop compounds on sensory perception.     

The efficacy of bitter blockers on health-relevant bitterants

Current strategies for decreasing the bitterness of conventional foods often involve the addition of sucrose and sodium chloride. However this has limited application with functional foods, as they are health promoting, and other approaches are required. This study assesses the efficacy of high and low concentrations of five bitter inhibiting compounds [β-cyclodextrin (β-CYCLO), homoeriodictyol sodium salt (HED), zinc sulphate monohydrate (ZnSO₄), magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄), carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC)] on the perceived bitterness of high and low concentrations of (+)-catechin and caffeine – two ingredients used in functional food formulations. Intensity ratings (bitterness, sourness, saltiness, sweetness, savoriness, astringency, ‘other’) of bitterant-bitter blocker binary solutions were collected from a panel of twelve, in duplicate, using a 15 cm line scale. Overall, β-CYCLO and HED were the most effective blockers at decreasing the bitterness of (+)-catechin, while the bitterness of caffeine was reduced most effectively by HED. Results also demonstrate that the bitter reducing capacity of these blockers is bitterant dependent. In general, these bitter blockers elicit minimum side tastes and sensations, although astringency and viscosity intensities are increased under some conditions. We conclude that some bitter blockers show considerable potential for decreasing the bitterness of phenols and caffeine in functional food formulations.     

The effect of inhomogeneous quinine and hydrocolloid distributions on the bitterness of model gels

This study investigated the effect of inhomogeneous distributions of quinine on bitterness intensity of gelatine–agar composite gels. It also investigated the effect of inhomogeneous distributions of the gel’s hydrocolloid constituents (the gelatine and agar) on the bitterness intensity of the quinine. Fifty-two screened subjects participated in four paired comparison tests comparing inhomogeneous designs of quinine (with a homogeneous hydrocolloid distribution) and inhomogeneous designs of the hydrocolloids (with a homogeneous quinine distribution), against a homogeneous control of identical overall quinine and hydrocolloid composition. Using the same gel designs, a mastication trial was undertaken where ten subjects were asked to chew each gel system until the point of swallowing, and eleven subjects participated in a time-intensity trial where bitterness intensity was monitored during mastication and after expectoration. Paired comparison tests showed that the inhomogeneous distribution of quinine increased bitterness intensity, while inhomogeneous distributions of the hydrocolloids did not. Mastication was not influenced by changes in the distribution of quinine or the hydrocolloids. Time intensity curves showed the gels having an inhomogeneous distribution of quinine had greater bitterness intensity throughout mastication, however no differences in bitterness intensity were observed between any gel designs in the latter stages of aftertaste measurements. Time intensity curves also showed a slight delay in time to maximum bitterness intensity for the gels with inhomogeneous distributions of hydrocolloids. Results suggest a homogeneous distribution of bitter compounds is the most suitable structure for minimising bitterness perception.     

Caffeine metabolism rate influences coffee perception,preferences and intake

Several factors – genetic, demographic and environmental – contribute to individual differences in sensitivity to the pharmacological effects of caffeine. Caffeine metabolism influences coffee consumption, but its effect on bitterness perception in, and preference for, coffee is unknown.This study explores the possible relationship between caffeine metabolism rate and coffee preferences and consumption habits. In addition, the extent to which caffeine metabolism interacted with variations in bitterness perception was investigated. Caffeine metabolism rate was assayed by competitive immuno-enzymatic assay in one-hundred thirty-five coffee consumers who provided saliva samples after 12 h caffeine abstinence and at 30 and 90 min after ingestion of caffeine (100 mg). A caffeine metabolism index (CmI) was computed as the ratio between the amount of residual caffeine in saliva 60 min after the adsorption peak and the amount of caffeine at the adsorption peak corrected with the baseline. Ninety-one subjects were selected to investigate the relationships between inter-individual variation in caffeine metabolism, bitterness perception and coffee preference. Subjects rated liking for, and sourness, bitterness and astringency of, six unsweetened and freely sweetened coffee samples varying in roasting degree, caffeine content and bitterness. They also rated the bitterness of six caffeine and six quinine (equi-intense) solutions. Finally, subjects choose coffee to drink on the basis of a label (strong vs balanced flavor) both after caffeine abstinence and after no restrictions on caffeine intake. The CmI was strongly associated with the frequency of daily coffee consumption. Subjects with lower CmI gave higher bitterness ratings than other subjects for both coffee and caffeine solutions, but not for quinine solutions. They also added more sugar to the coffee samples. Following caffeine abstinence, all subjects chose the “strong flavor” coffee, while without caffeine restrictions, subjects with lower CmI preferentially tended to choose the “balanced flavor” coffee. These results provide the first link between caffeine metabolism and bitterness perception, and to the use of sugar to modify coffee bitterness.     

Influence of glutamic acid on the bitter taste of various compounds

Summary The bitter taste of L-valine, L-tryptophan, L-trileucine and a tryptic hydrolysate of _sl-caScin was diminished to 17–35% of its original strength by glutamic acid in a molar excess between 0.6 and 14. The bitter taste of compounds from other structural classes was not (naringin, limonin) or not seriously affected by glutamic acid. The maximal effects were decreases in bitterness to 77% (caffeine) and 71 % (quinine) of the original value, respectively. The results indicate the existence of various bitter receptors.

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Einfluß von Glutaminsäure auf den Bittergeschmack verschiedener Verbindungen

Zusammenfassung Der Bittergeschmack von L-Valin, L-Tryptophan, L-Trileucin und eines tryptischen Hydrolysats von _sl-CaScin wurde auf 17–35% des Ausgangswertes herabgesetzt durch Glutaminsäure im molaren Überschuß zwischen 0,6 und 14. Der Bittergeschmack von Verbindungen aus anderen Stoffklassen wurde durch Glutaminsäure nicht (Naringin, Limonin) oder nicht stark beeinflußt. Maximale Effekte waren eine Absenkung der Bitterkeit auf 77% (Coffein) und 71% (Chinin) des Ausgangswertes. Die Ergebnisse deuten auf das Vorkommen verschiedener Bitterrezeptoren.

     

柚皮苷/柠檬苦素微胶囊的制备、结构分析及特性研究

为提高柚皮中柚皮苷和柠檬苦素的生物利用度,降低其苦味,拓展其在食品开发中的应用,本研究以海藻酸钠-壳聚糖-氯化钙体系为壁材,采用锐孔造粒法微胶囊化柚皮苷/柠檬苦素,并以柚皮苷/柠檬苦素包埋率为响应值,通过单因素实验和响应面试验优化柚皮苷/柠檬苦素微胶囊的制备工艺。进一步通过扫描电镜（SEM）、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪（FTIR）、电子舌、热稳定性分析以及体外模拟消化试验对柚皮苷/柠檬苦素微胶囊的微观形态、分子结构、相对苦味强度、热稳定性及胃肠消化特性进行了研究。结果表明,微胶囊化最佳工艺条件为壁芯材比为8:3、壳聚糖质量分数为0.9%,氯化钙质量分数为3%,此时包埋率可达88.2%,与理论值的88.68%相对误差小于5%,说明该工艺准确可靠;扫描电镜证实海藻酸钠-壳聚糖-氯化钙体系组成的微胶囊结构能高效且紧实包裹柚皮苷和柠檬苦素,并且微胶囊表面无裂缝、孔洞和凹陷的现象。热稳定性和电子舌试验表明,柚皮苷和柠檬苦素的微胶囊化可以明显提高柚皮苷和柠檬苦素的稳定性,并且有效降低其苦味强度;体外模拟胃肠道消化缓释试验表明,微胶囊在模拟胃液中消化6 h后总体释放率才达31%左右,在模拟肠液中消化45 min时累计释放率已经超过75%,表明微胶囊化能有效促进柚皮苷/柠檬苦素在肠道内的生物转化与吸收,提高其利用率。本研究结果可为拓展柚皮苷/柠檬苦素在食品和医药领域的高值化利用提供依据。     

Thermal taster status associates with oral sensations elicited by wine

Backgrounds and Aims: Individual differences in the perception of wine flavour may contribute to variation in wine consumer behaviour. Two phenotypes shown to associate with the intensity of oral sensations elicited by simple solutions are thermal taster status (TTS) and responsiveness to the bitterant 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Thermals tasters (TTs) perceive ‘phantom’ tastes when the tongue is thermally stimulated. Here, we investigate the effect of TTS and PROP responsiveness on the perceived intensity of oral sensations elicited by wine. Methods and Results: Two white (2008 Pinot Grigio, Italy and 2007 Gewürztraminer, Canada) and two red (2007 Valpolicella, Italy and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile) wines were assessed by 20 TTs and 20 thermal non-tasters (TnTs). TTs rated the intensities of sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and overall flavour higher than TnTs, and males (17) tended to rate these sensations higher than females (23). Unexpectedly, PROP responsiveness was not associated with intensity ratings of oral sensations for any wine (P(r) > 0.05). Neither TTS, PROP responsiveness, nor gender was linked with liking scores of the wines. Conclusion: TTS may be an important determinant of individual differences in oral perception of wine. Significance of Study: Understanding how individuals differ in their perception of wine can assist with product development, formulation and marketing.     

基于电子舌与人工感官的茶叶滋味属性参考物呈味强度相关性分析

目的:探究电子舌和人工感官对茶叶滋味属性参考物呈味强度的相关性。方法:以奎宁、明矾、谷氨酸钠、蔗糖和柠檬酸依次为苦、涩、鲜、甜、酸滋味属性参考物,在觉察阈值基础上,分析各滋味属性参考物电子舌和人工感官的浓度—呈味强度关系及其相关性。结果:奎宁苦味觉察阈值为0.015 mg/mL、对应电子舌响应值为4.91;明矾涩味觉察阈值为0.01 mg/mL、对应电子舌响应值为3.32;谷氨酸钠鲜味觉察阈值为0.03 mg/mL、对应电子舌响应值为1.32;蔗糖甜味觉察阈值为0.4 mg/mL、对应电子舌响应值为18.07,柠檬酸酸味觉察阈值为0.04 mg/mL、对应电子舌响应值为6.18。各滋味属性参考物的人工感官和电子舌浓度—呈味强度均呈一定函数曲线关系,符合Weber-Fechne定律;在所选浓度范围内,柠檬酸(酸味)和蔗糖(甜味)电子舌呈味强度与人工感官强度呈正相关,奎宁(苦味)和明矾(涩味)电子舌呈味强度与人工感官强度呈负相关。结论:茶叶中5种滋味属性参考物电子舌检测与人工感官浓度—呈味强度具有一定相关性。     

Taste properties of cocoa drinks with an added bitter/sweet sugar: intensity/time effects

Cocoa drinks treated with either sucrose or the bitter/sweet sugar, methyl α-D-mannopyranoside were evaluated for their intensity/time response determined by taste panellists using a moving chart recorder. Both additives caused an increase in persistence as well as intensity of response, sucrose for sweetness and methyl α-D-mannopyranoside for bitterness.
Tasting of the sucrose-treated drinks, after presaturating panellists' tongues with quinine sulphate solutions, caused no significant differences in perceived sweetness. However, presaturating panellists' tongues with sucrose solution did cause significant differences in bitterness perception of the drinks containing methyl α-D-mannopyranoside.
These results accord with a previous observation of the taste response to methyl α-D-mannopyranoside in pure water and suggest that the bitter/sweet molecule may exert its effect by simultaneously spanning both basic taste receptors.     

Simultaneous Determination of 18 Bioactive Compounds in Italian Bitter Liqueurs by Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detection

A simple, fast and accurate method has been developed to simultaneously determine 18 bioactive compounds in Italian bitter liqueurs containing gentian, cinchona, cinnamon, rhubarb, clove, star anise or orange, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD). HPLC analysis was performed with a C18 column using methanol and aqueous phosphoric acid (pH 2.5) as mobile phase. Selected wavelengths, i.e. 210, 232, 275, 285, 291, 310 and 368 nm, were used for quantification of compounds. The column temperature was controlled at 30 °C. The correlation coefficients (R ²) of the calibration curves of the analysed compounds were ≥0.9999 in a relatively wide concentration range (0.5–50 μg/ml). The proposed method proved successful in simultaneously analysing 18 bitter liqueurs produced in Italy. The concentration of the most important bitter principles, gentiopicroside, amarogentin, quinine and naringin, ranged as follows: 1.17–299.20, 0.25–32.24, 1.44–6.93 and 0.28–39.99 μg/ml, respectively.     

Investigation of citrus flavor adsorption during debittering of grapefruit juice using kinetic modeling and response surface methodology

Reconstituted grapefruit juice was debittered with XAD-7HP adsorbent resin in batch experiments and the adsorption rate constants of the bitter principal naringin and the volatile flavor compounds α-pinene, β-myrcene, dlimonene, α-terpineol, and β-caryophyllene were determined using a pseudo-first order kinetic model. The highest rate constants were observed consistently for the off-flavor α-terpineol, followed by naringin and the other flavor compounds. The rate constant of each substance was influenced significantly by temperature, ratio of adsorbent/juice, and, except for α-terpineol, by the interaction of both factors (p<0.05). Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for the development of regression models to predict the adsorption rate constants of all substances. On the basis of the regression models for d-limonene and naringin, a factor combination that minimized loss of flavor and maximized bitterness reduction during the debittering procedure was determined to be a combination of low temperature (13.9°C) and high adsorbent/juice ratio (3.6%).     

FLAVOUR AND HAZE STABILITY DIFFERENCES DUE TO HOP TANNINS IN ALL-MALT PILSNER BEERS BREWED WITH PROANTHOCYANIDIN-FREE MALT

All-malt Pilsner beers were brewed with proanthocyanidin-free malt (ant 13 × 13 × Rupal). Hopping was with n-hexane tannin-free hop extract with or without n-hexane extracted hop residue or with whole leaf hops. The different beers were analysed chemically and presented to an expert panel to detect possible preferences and differences in bitterness and astringency. The impact of hop proantho-cyanidins on haze formation is comparable to that of malt proanthocyanidins. No differences between the beers were found in triangular tests. Statistical analysis of the paired comparison tests showed that hop proanthocyanidins do not contribute to the bitterness of beer since beer brewed with tannin-free hop extract is slightly more bitter than beer brewed with whole leaf hops. No differences in astringency were noted between beers brewed with or without hop proanthocyanidins and it was found that the panel expressed a very slight preference for beer brewed with n-hexane hop extract over beer brewed with both n-hexane hop extract and extracted hop residue.     

Taste perception with age: pleasantness and its relationships with threshold sensitivity and supra-threshold intensity of five taste qualities

The relationships between threshold sensitivity, supra-threshold intensity of NaCl, KCl, sucrose, aspartame, acetic acid, citric acid, caffeine, quinine HCl, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP), and the pleasantness of these stimuli in products, were studied in 21 young subjects (19–33 yr) and 21 older subjects (60–75 yr). For the young, threshold sensitivity was unrelated to supra-threshold intensity for all tastants and in all experimental conditions. For the elderly, in a few cases a relationship was found between threshold sensitivity and suprathreshold intensity, but only when subjects wore a nose clip. The optimally preferred concentration did not differ between the elderly and the young when the products were tasted without a nose clip, except for both sweet tastants, where elderly men showed a higher optimally preferred concentration than did the young. The optimally preferred concentration did not depend on the pleasantness of the foods and was unrelated to threshold sensitivity, but did show a negative correlation with the supra-threshold intensity of sucrose, aspartame and citric acid for the elderly and of NaCl, sucrose and caffeine for the young. This study does not support the assumption that age-related loss of taste sensitivity will inevitably lead to a preference for taste-enhanced foods.     

Longitudinal study of taste identification of sensory panellists: Effect of Ageing,Experience and Exposure

It is generally known that training increases taste performance, but at the same time several studies reveal major taste impairment with age. In the present study, the influence of Ageing, Experience and Exposure on taste identification performance, measured as number of correctly identified sweet, salt, sour, and bitter taste stimuli at low, medium and high concentrations, was studied annually from 1976 to 2003 for the sensory panel at Matforsk AS. This longitudinal study of taste identification performance of 21 sensory panellists showed that after correction for the general performance level for each participant, panellist age progress (“Ageing”), number of years of panellist employment (“Experience”) and number of identification tests taken (“Exposure”) were all positively related to correct taste identification. PLS regression was employed in order to balance between estimation precision and interpretation specificity in light of the partial confounding between the explanatory variables Ageing, Experience and Exposure. The latter variable appeared to be the primary predictor of over-all taste identification performance as well as for taste identification of individual stimuli. The most prevalent mis-identifications (apart from misses involving water) were the low sucrose concentration reported as bitter taste, the low citric acid concentration reported as bitter taste, and the low caffeine/quinine concentration reported as sour.     

The effect of modifying the distribution of sucralose and quinine on bitterness suppression in model gels

This study investigated the effect of simultaneously manipulating the spatial distribution of a sweet masking agent and bitter tastant within gelatine–agar gels on bitterness suppression, using sucralose and quinine. Sixty subjects participated in a series of paired comparison tests comparing different gel designs containing both sucralose and quinine, against a homogeneous control gel of identical overall sucralose (0.3 mM) and quinine content (0.3 mM). Twenty subjects also determined the bitterness reduction achieved in the homogeneous control gel by the addition of 0.3 mM sucralose to 0.3 mM quinine. Separating quinine and sucralose into different portions of the gel had no influence on bitterness suppression. Inhomogeneously distributing the quinine and sucralose into the same parts of the gel reduced the effectiveness of bitterness suppression. Inhomogeneously distributing the sucralose, while maintaining a homogeneous distribution of quinine, had no influence on bitterness suppression. Although an inhomogeneous distribution of sucralose increased sweetness perception and the addition of sucralose (0.3 mM) was found to substantially reduce bitterness in the homogeneous control, bitterness suppression was not enhanced when distributing the masking agent (sucralose) inhomogeneously.