Relative Importance of Color, Fruity Flavor and Sweetness in the Overall Liking of Soft Drinks

Sixteen soft drink samples, in which appearance (colorless or colored), fruity flavor (with or without a flavorant) and sweetness (5 or 9% sucrose) were systematically varied, were rated for their pleasantness of appearance, flavor (odor, taste and sweetness separately) and overall liking by 448 young adults and children. In terms of sample parameters sucrose concentration and the presence of a flavorant significantly influenced overall liking, whereas color had little significance. In terms of sensory attributes pleasantness of taste and sweetness mainly determined overall liking. The responses of young adults and of children were in the main rather similar, except that the children seemed to put more emphasis on sweetness.