Can ingredients and information interventions affect the hedonic level and (emo-sensory) perceptions of the milk chocolate and cocoa drink's consumers?

Abstract

To increase the competitiveness of chocolate and cocoa drink on the market, innovation of the products is substantially required. Incorporation of additional ingredients, i.e., ginger and cinnamon, as well giving information intervention on their health effect may increase the consumer acceptance as well as advance the consumer perception on the products. This study, therefore, aims to determine the effect of additional ingredient and intervention on health-related information on the hedonic level, emo-sensory response and collative perception of panelists on milk chocolate and cocoa drinks, which were enriched with additional ingredients, i.e., ginger, cinnamon and stabilizers. This study used descriptive quantitative method in which the data were obtained from 40 panelists. Correspondence analysis was used to see the emo-sensory profile and panelist perceptions that were emerged from each sample. The results show that the addition of spices to chocolate and cocoa drinks resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the hedonic level. However, the use of stabilizer significantly improved the hedonic level of cocoa drink. The hedonic responses, emotions and collative perceptions of the panelists were influenced by the product information, particularly on the products with the addition of spices.