Introduction: Legumes have many favourable health and environmental benefits and are predicted to be the diet of the future. Sweden sits on a cultural treasure when it comes to legumes from the past that have been collected by The programme of cultivated diversity, POM. A sensory description would be a valuable tool to reach the consumer and a way to increase the consumption and value of the product.
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to identify and bring forward sensory descriptive words for six Swedish legumes from the past. This thesis will also describe the Swedish legumes using the sensory descriptive words to evaluate whether there are sensory differences.
Method: Six different types of legumes were used in the two surveys. The first survey consisted of a qualitative group discussion and the goal was to bring forward sensory descriptive words for the legumes. The second survey consisted of a quantitative intensity evaluation of the legumes. Both surveys were made by a panel of experts, chosen for their knowledge of legumes.
Result: The sensory words which best describes the legumes are sweet, sour/acidic, bitter, chestnut, nutty, buttery, fresh, rich taste and with variations in aftertaste. The mouthfeel can be described as mealy, crisp, solid and tender. The evaluation of intensity proved the legumes to have few taste varieties, but despite the sensory descriptions each of the six legumes were possible to distinguish.
Conclusion: The sensory descriptive words that this thesis have lead to can help the consumer to chose the right product, increase the value of the product an at the same time preserve a cultural treasure of Sweden. It is also possible for the consumer to create a cultural identity with all the good benefits that the legumes possess.