Sensory quality of low-sugar orange gels with gellan, xanthan and locust bean gums

Effects of reducing the sucrose content (from 55 to 30 ^°Brix in the final product) and of the use of gellan gum or a mixture of gellan, xanthan and locust bean gums (3:1:1) on the mechanical characteristics (maximum rupture force and deformation at rupture) of orange gels prepared with 15% w/w fruit pulp, sucrose and different amounts of hydrocolloids (0.25, 0.4, 0.55 and 0.7% w/w) were studied by uniaxial compression. The concentration of aspartame needed to compensate for sweetness loss was determined by a paired-comparison constant-stimulus method. Sensory characteristics (texture, appearance and flavour) of low-sugar orange gels (30 ^°Brix) with 0.5% w/w aspartame and different amounts (0.55 and 0.7% w/w) of gellan or the mixture of gums were analysed by the free choice profile method in comparison with the high-sucrose reference material (55 ^°Brix and 0.4% w/w gellan). Use of the mixture of gums permitted the obtention of low-sugar orange gels showing mechanical characteristics similar to those of the reference gel, though some differences in texture were perceived. The low-sugar gels were slightly lighter in colour and slightly more bitter and refreshing than the reference sample. Received: 29 November 1995/Revised version: 13 May 1996