Browsing by Author "Lukkari, Emmi"

Plant proteins have excellent nutritional quality and their use in food is constantly increasing. Plant protein powders are widely used as raw material for plant protein products. Characterization of the sensory properties of plant protein powders is important for product development. Aim of the study was to study the sensory properties of six different plant protein powders using a descriptive analysis. The aim was to obtain new information about the sensory properties of plant pro-teins. Study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intensities of the sensory properties of the plant protein concentrates, i.e., faba bean, brown pea, yellow pea, hemp, flaxseed and pea protein isolate were studied by a generic descriptive analysis. The trained panel created a vocabulary for the sensory properties of plant proteins and sensory profile of 17 properties was formed. The profile included six smell, four texture, two flavor, and five taste-related properties together with suitable reference samples. Assessors evaluated the samples in three separate sessions. The results showed that the brown and yellow peas had very similar profiles. Their typical smell properties were grassy, smell and flavor of fresh pea, sweetness, bitterness and mouth-drying sensation. The bitterness and mouth-drying sensation of the faba bean were strongest of all and it also contained more grain and musty smell compared to the peas. The properties of the pea protein isolate differed from brown and yellow peas because in umami taste and pea-like properties. Oilseeds, i.e., hemp and flaxseed were dominated by a grain and musty smell, as well as rough-ness and sandiness. The smell and flavor properties of the cooked peas were mild in the plant pro-tein samples because the properties of cooked peas are created during the production of plant protein products. Due to the high protein concentration of pea protein isolate it differed most from all the other samples.