30 Nov 2019

36 characteristics to describe blueberries

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The objective of a 2014 research study was to identify the choice parameters of US consumers in their decision to purchase fresh blueberries .

In two different periods (2011 and 2013), 306 and 300 consumers respectively responded to cards containing a combination of attributes to describe blueberries; the panel was then asked how likely they were to buy a fruit with those attributes.

For example:

WITH WHAT PROBABILITY (FROM 1 TO 10) YOU WOULD BUY A FRUIT WITH THESE CHARACTERISTICS: FLOURY, KNEADED, DRY | LIGHT BLUE BERRIES | VERY SWEET, NO NEED TO SUGAR | NO FAT, NO CHOLESTEROL

The characteristics identified by the researchers that have been combined to investigate consumer preferences have been grouped into 6 categories (hardness, texture, size, colour, flavour and aroma, nutritional characteristics) and each in 6 descriptive elements.

These 36 elements can be used to provide a broad overview of the expressions that a consumer associates with the consumption of blueberries; they thus provide practitioners with a guide to the different aspects that are assessed when buying and repurchasing.

HARDNESS

  • Crunchy fruits, bursting in the mouth
  • Crushed, it melts in your mouth
  • A tender fruit
  • Tight without a seal, like a grape
  • Thin peel that melts in the mouth
  • Hard, rubbery skin

CONSISTENCY

  • Uniform consistency, seedless
  • Lots of seeds, a little astringent
  • Full of juice
  • Fleshy, not juicy
  • Floury, kneaded, dry
  • Lightweight, not dense

SIZE

  • The biggest berry I've ever seen
  • Fruits
  • Small, to eat more fruits at a time
  • As big as a big marble
  • Small as a pea
  • Medium, the size of a one-cent coin

COLOR

  • Dark blue, almost black
  • Light blue berries
  • Full blue berries
  • Berries with a soft white patina
  • Uniform dark blue berries
  • Dark blue exterior, pale interior

TASTE, AROMA

  • Fruity flavour
  • Intense and clean aroma of blueberry
  • Complex aroma with a hint of bitterness
  • Very sweet, no need for sugar
  • Sour taste that activates the taste buds
  • Delicate aroma

NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Full of antioxidants
  • No fat, no cholesterol
  • High vitamin C content
  • A rich source of dietary fibre
  • Organic fruit
  • A source of low-carbohydrate nutrients

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