Abstract

The purpose of the present work was to implement a sensory evaluation panel for Chilean honeys. The expert panel was trained during 14 sessions, with the aim of developing recognition of aromatic standards in order to be able to discriminate between honey samples using aromatic descriptors. At the end of this training period, the panel was able to carry out a formal evaluation using a quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). The statistical analyses showed particular aromatic profiles for each sample, and identified the unifloral quillay (Quillaja saponaria), ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia) and corontillo (Escallonia pulverulenta) honeys according to their different sensory characteristics. The results of this sensory panel will be useful for the development and implementation of long-term strategies to obtain objective tools that will allow the aromatic characterization of Chilean honeys.