Quality and sensory profile evaluation of gluten-free sapodilla-wild almond seed bar with stevia as partial sugar substitution

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the quality of fruit bars prepared with different ratios of sapodilla-wild almond seed (80:20 and 70:30 w/w) and sugar substitution with stevia (0, 1/3, and 2/3 as equivalent sweetness basis). Physical properties (moisture and water activity), sensory acceptability, and preference mapping of the fruit bars were investigated. The samples formulated with a higher proportion of sapodilla pulp had higher moisture and water activity than those with less sapodilla pulp. Increasing the sugar substitution with stevia tended to decrease the moisture and water activity of the fruit bars. The stevia incorporation had effects on sensorial attributes, especially the flavor depending on how much sapodilla pulp proportion used in fruit bar preparation. The fruit bars formulated with 80:20 of the sapodilla-wild almond seed and 2/3 sugar substitution and that with 70:30 and full-sugar perceived the highest overall acceptability. The preference mapping revealed the importance of product attributes, and the texture was an important attribute on sensorial acceptance. In conclusion, the fruit bar prepared with 80/20 of sapodilla-wild almond seed and 2/3 sugar substitution with stevia was the most preferred formulation.