Ability of hand evaluation versus mouth evaluation to differentiate texture of cheese

Hand evaluation and mouth evaluation were compared for texture of cheese. Panelists (n = 11) identified seven mouth terms and five hand terms and developed definitions and standard procedures for evaluation during the course of training. The terms were used to evaluate texture properties of fourteen different types of natural and processed full fat and reduced fat cheeses. Hand and mouth evaluation were able to discriminate cheese texture (P less than or equal to 0.05). principal component analysis of data revealed that hand and mouth evaluation differentiated the cheeses in a similar manner. Correlation analysis, factor analysis, and canonical analysis revealed that mouth and hand terms were highly correlated (P less than or equal to 0.05). Either hand or mouth evaluation can be used to discriminate cheese texture.