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. 2019 Aug 8;29(1):63–74. doi: 10.1007/s10068-019-00643-3

Table 2.

Definitions and reference standards for the appearance, odor/aroma, flavor/taste, texture/mouthfeel, and aftertaste attributes used in the descriptive analysis of blended tea products

Attribute Descriptor Abbreviation Definition Reference Intensity score
Appearance Brightness BrightA Intensity of brightness of corn silk tea

Corn silk tea

Prep.: 30 mL Corn silk tea (Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) poured into a white paper cup

6
Transparent TranspA Intensity of transparency of lemonade Lemonade (Sunkist Growers, Inc., Valencia, CA, USA) 7
Greenness GreenA Intensity of greenness of sports drink Gatorade with lemon flavor (Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) 7
Redness RedA Intensity of redness of Ceylon tea

Black tea

Prep.: 30 mL canned black tea (Ceylon tea, Lotte Chilsung Beverage) poured into a white paper cup

10
Yellowness YellowA Intensity of yellowness of apple jam diluted solution

Apple jam

Prep.: 2 tbsp apple jam (Bokumjari Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do, Korea) diluted with 200 mL boiling water

7
Odor/aroma Mint odor MintO Pleasant smells associated with mint Mint flavor candy (Eclipse, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., Chicago, IL, USA) 8
Flower odor FlowerO Aromatics associated with dried flowers Dried floral leaves (Gypsophila, chamomile, lavender [Romantic November, online market, Busan, Korea]) 10
Jelly odor JellyO Sweet smells associated with fruit jelly Fruit jelly (Haribo Goldbaren [Haribo GmbH & Co. KG, Bonn, Germany]) 11
Bitter odor BitterO Aromatics associated with herbal medicine

Herbal medicine

Prep.: 50% herbal medicine (Ssanghwatang [Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical]) diluent

8
Sweet odor SweetO Sweet smells associated with a honey solution

Honey

Prep.: 2% honey from various flowers (Dongsuh Foods Co., Seoul, Korea) diluent

8
Artificial sweeteners odor ASweetO Aromatics associated with artificial sweeteners, such as syrup-like medicine

Liquid medicine

Prep.: 10% liquid medicine with strawberry flavor (Coldy S Syrup [Samil Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea]) diluent

10
Dried mugwort odor DMugwortO Aromatics associated with sauna bath, such as dried mugwort Moxa (Ssuktteum Myeongga Co., Seoul, Korea) 7
Flavor/taste Mild flavor MildF Mild flavor associated with corn silk tea Corn silk tea (Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical) 10
Artificial sweeteners taste ASweetF Flavor associated with artificial sweetener

Liquid medicine

Prep.: 10% liquid medicine with strawberry flavor (Coldy S Syrup [Samil]) diluent

10
Bitter taste BitterF Flavor associated with herbal medicine

Herbal medicine

Prep.: 50% herbal medicine (Ssanghwatang [Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical]) diluent

9
Sweet taste SweetF Flavor associated with honeyed water

Honey

Prep.: 2% honey from various flowers (Dongsuh Foods) diluent

7
Fruit taste FruitF Flavor associated with fruit tea

Apple jam

Prep.: 2 tbsp Apple jam (Bokumjari) diluted with 200 mL boiling water

7
Sour taste SourF Flavor associated with lemonade

Lemonade

Prep.: 30% Lemonade (Sunkist Growers) diluent

9
Astringency AstrinF Feeling of shriveled tongue associated with tannins

Burdock tea

Prep.: 5 g dried burdock slices (Jirisangol, online market, Gyeonggi-do, Korea) infused with 200 mL boiling water for 2 min

7
Texture/mouthfeel Powdery mouthfeel PowderT Mouthfeel of tongue coated with powder

Yakult

Prep.: 100 mL Yakult (Maeil Dairies Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) diluted with 200 mL water

7
Aftertaste Powdery mouthfeel PowerAF Mouthfeel of tongue coated with powder

Yakult

Prep.: 100 mL Yakult (Maeil Dairies) diluted with 200 mL water

7
Bitter flavor BitterAF Bitterness associated with herbal medicine in the mouth after swallowing tea

Herbal medicine

Prep.: 50% herbal medicine (Ssanghwatang [Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical]) diluent

9
Sweet flavor SweetAF Sweetness in the mouth after swallowing tea

Honey

Prep.: 2% honey from various flowers (Dongsuh Foods) diluent

7