An analysis of consumer perception, emotional responses, and beliefs about mead

• Published in: International journal of food science & technology 2024-10, Vol.59 (10), p.7426-7435
• Main Authors: Gorman, Mackenzie, Stright, Allison, Baxter, Laura, Moss, Rachael, McSweeney, Matthew B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcoholic beverages; Beer; Check‐all‐that‐apply; Cider; consumer acceptability; Consumers; Emotional factors; Emotions; Flavors; honey; Liquor; Perception; Sensory evaluation; Sensory properties; Sweet taste; Wines; word association
• ISSN: 0950-5423; 1365-2621
• DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.17483

Summary Mead is an ancient alcoholic beverage that lacks a large market share in Canada. This study aimed to identify consumer perception of mead, which sensory properties lead to liking and disliking of mead, and how participants would consume mead in their everyday lives. A sub‐objective was to evaluate the use of a written scenario on consumers' liking and emotional response to mead. Alcoholic beverage consumers (n = 122) were recruited to evaluate six commercial mead samples. Initially, consumers completed a word association task about mead. Then, the participants were split into two groups; one group evaluated the samples after writing a consumption scenario, and the other without a scenario. The participants evaluated the samples using hedonic scales and check‐all‐that‐apply questions (sensory properties and emotional responses). Findings showed that mead was associated with historical references and honey, as well as different sensory properties and other alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and cider). Consumers preferred meads with higher alcoholic content, and meads that they perceived to be sweet and have floral and apple flavours. The use of the written scenario increased hedonic scores for flavour, appearance, and overall liking, as well as their selection of positive emotions when evaluating the mead samples. This study identified consumers prefer meads that are sweet and have a higher alcohol content. This study asked 122 alcoholic beverage consumers to identify their beliefs about mead, as well as evaluate six mead samples (using hedonic scales and check‐all‐that‐apply) with and without a scenario question.