Sensory at Byodo

Sensory examination is the science of the use of human sense organs (eyes, nose, mouth, ears and sense of touch) for the purpose of testing and measuring. This might sound very dry, but on closer inspection sensory examination becomes a vivid subject.

What are sensoric analysis?

In sensory testing the focus lies on a comprehensive product description. This reaches from the product´s appearance over its consistency in the mouth to the flavour in all its facets. Sensory testing is about describing all impressions as neutrally as possible and depicting the product in a most detailed and faceted way.

Train your senses!

Let`s try olive oil from a sensory tester´s point of view: Take the blue coloured degustatation glass filled with olive oil, swerve it, lift the cap and concentrate on the scent - is it fruity, intensive, like freshly cut grass? Then spread the oil on your tongue - at first you will  perhaps taste if its sweet or bitter, define if the oil is more mild or intensive. Then we can focus on futher impressions. What does the flavour remind you of? Perhaps it is the fine aroma of almond, banana or honey? Now describe what the oil feels like in your mouth-creamy, thick, oily? At the end the appearance will play a major role. Does the product seem to have a more greenish or golden colour?

You have just been focussing on the olive oil for a couple of minutes, collected all impressions and marked them down - and have therefore completed a test of descriptive sensory examination.