Use of Home-Use Test in the performance of new corn pudding flavors

This study aimed to sensorially evaluate five samples of corn canjica with different flavors (traditional, peanut, nuts, pistachio, and powdered milk with hazelnut cream) using recognized methodologies to understand consumer preferences: an affective test with a 9-cm hedonic scale (anchored at the extremes with the terms “disliked very much” and “liked very much” for the attributes of appearance, aroma, flavor, texture, and overall impression); additionally, the CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) questionnaire was applied with terms related to emotions associated with the products, along with 5-point purchase intention scale. The samples were delivered to participants, and evaluation was carried out as a Home Use Test (HUT), providing real usage conditions, allowing observation of sensory responses influenced by context, routine, and natural interaction with the product. All the instructions for controlling the temperature of the samples, evaluation instructions according to balancing, and sent coding were presented online to the tasters, ensuring standardization and control of the test conditions. In total, 100 participants completed the tests (80% women; 20% men). The samples were prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. The ingredients for each flavor were added afterward, following a formulation with the same proportion of sucrose. The coded portions contained 50g each and were evaluated at refrigeration temperature, between 5-7°C. As results obtained through statistical calculation using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with 5% significance, the proposal containing peanut was the most liked in terms of aroma and taste (standing out from the others) and still showed no statistical difference from the traditional version in appearance and texture. The product effect on the total count of CATA words was tested using Cochran's Q test, and the results showed that the traditional sample was characterized by nostalgia, affection, and comfort; the peanut flavor by affection and joy, while the new flavors by joy, anxiety, surprise, and fear.