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Browsing by Author "Chang, Elizabeth A. B."

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
  • 2022 Sentinel Vineyards "State of the Grape in the State" Report 2
    Acimovic, Dana; Chang, Elizabeth A. B.; Nita, Mizuho; Hatch, Tremain (2022-02-09)
    - Vineyard update - Disease update - Fruit chemistry update - Novel Varieties project: basic fruit chemistry
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    Appeal of the Apple: Exploring consumer perceptions of hard cider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States
    Calvert, Martha D.; Neill, Clinton L.; Stewart, Amanda C.; Chang, Elizabeth A. B.; Whitehead, Susan R.; Lahne, Jacob (Taylor & Francis, 2023-10-23)
    Alcoholic or “hard” cider is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, particularly throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Yet, many stakeholders struggle to understand how consumers define and distinguish hard cider from the sea of options in the saturated alcoholic beverage market. This study aimed to explore consumer preferences for hard cider using a phenomenological, qualitative approach. The research comprised 14 focus groups with regular cider consumers (99 participants) throughout three leading cider-producing states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States: Virginia, Vermont, and New York. All focus group sessions were subject to reflexive thematic analysis for themes broadly related to cider product preference and the cider-drinking experience. Results of the study suggest that cider preference is motivated largely by sensory quality in addition to various other factors including perceived health effects, regionality and proximity, the drinking occasion, and product information. Results also emphasize the importance of nostalgia in cider sensory experiences, as well as the role of social norms in consumer valuation of cider products. Overall, this research highlights diverse consumer preferences for cider and serves as a framework for using qualitative research methods to explore consumer preferences in the food and beverage industries.
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    Appeal of the Apple: Investigating Preference, Perception, and Communication Around Hard Cider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States
    Calvert, Martha D. (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-03)
    Alcoholic or "hard" cider, as it is known in the United States, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity worldwide, but most relevantly throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Cider has a rich history of being America's drink of choice, beginning with the native apple trees of indigenous communities and the proliferation of apple growing in the original American colonies. Today, cider is becoming popular particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic where New York, Virginia, and Vermont are the 1st, 8th, 12th ranked states with the most cideries in America. In light of the American cider industry experiencing such a renaissance, leading industry stakeholders and various other scholars have drawn attention to the need for increased clarity regarding consumer and producer perceptions of cider quality, as well as a more comprehensive understanding of cider sensory quality. This dissertation utilizes qualitative research methods, including focus groups and interviews conducted in New York, Virginia, and Vermont, to explore consumer and producer preferences of cider and the cider-drinking experience. In addition, this research employed traditional sensory descriptive analysis (DA) to quantify sensory differences across cider products. Lastly, this research presents findings on the use of biterm topic modeling (BTM), an emergent method of text mining for small datasets, to explore topics of discussion in cider marketing materials for products in the American cider marketplace. This dissertation presents evidence of preferences, sensory perception, and discourse within a snapshot of the current American cider industry. Cider consumers and producers prioritize flavor when discussing cider quality, but also value how cider is made and where it comes from. Consumers, in particular, are nostalgic about the cider-drinking community and culture that is omnipresent in the Northeast. Secondly, the sensory quality of ciders can be discriminated across multiple variables, including region of origin, packaging, and style; suggesting that the sensory space of American cider products is diverse and nuanced. Lastly, when marketing cider products through website platforms, cider producers tend to emphasize topics related to sensory attributes, production elements, food-pairing, flavorings, and apple varieties. With a greater understanding of consumer and producer preferences of cider, cider sensory quality, and cider communication, industry actors and stakeholders may have a more actionable understanding of where the cider industry may be headed with continued growth. As well, this dissertation provides a framework for the use of qualitative and text mining tools to better understand facets of consumption and production, as well as marketing language in the food and beverage space.
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    The Development of a Lexicon for Virginia Ciders through Descriptive Analysis
    Cole, Elizabeth Jane (Virginia Tech, 2022-06-08)
    Hard cider or "cider" is a fermented, alcoholic beverage made from the juice of apples. The cider industry has experienced recent growth within the United States and Virginia. Virginia is one of the largest producers of apples in the United States, and apples are considered a top commodity in the state. Currently, there is inconsistent terminology to describe Virginia cider, and cider producers are using descriptors that are usually associated with beer and wine. Thus, this study aims to identify the distinct sensory profiles of Virginia ciders and to identify drivers of consumer liking. Understanding sensory profiles and drivers of consumer liking for Virginia ciders will aid consumers in understanding what kind of cider styles they prefer and could help producers identify acceptable cider products. A descriptive analysis (DA) was completed to determine a well-defined sensory profile for Virginia hard ciders. The DA consisted of 24 ciders that producers considered to be representative of Virginia and their brands from 16 of the 32 known cider producers in Virginia. In the DA, 6 panelists defined reference standards for 48 descriptors consisting of 20 aromas, 3 tastes, 13 flavors, and 12 mouthfeel attributes. Through M/ANOVA, 22 descriptors were identified as significant, and 6 groups of ciders were identified using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). Then, an exploratory consumer study using 8 representative ciders from the DA was conducted with 67 subjects. Subjects were first asked a series of demographic questions, then presented with samples in randomized, sequential, monadic fashion and reported overall liking, purchasing intent, and willingness to pay. Internal and external preference mapping was accomplished with Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) and Clustering Around Latent Variables (CLV). Three distinct clusters were identified with distinct product and sensory preferences. Finally, basic chemical analyses of all samples were performed. The DA demonstrated that Virginia ciders have distinct sensory characteristics and fall into distinct sensory groups. The 3 consumer clusters found through CLV may represent cider drinkers' preferences in both Virginia and the United States. While no unusual cider chemistry was found, we were able to observe expected connections between chemistry and sensory profiles.
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    Exploring the sensory characteristics of Virginia ciders through descriptive analysis and external preference mapping
    Cole, Elizabeth; Stewart, Amanda C.; Chang, Elizabeth A. B.; Lahne, Jacob (Taylor & Francis, 2022-09-23)
    The cider industry has experienced recent growth within the USA and Virginia in particular. However, the sensory characteristics and drivers of consumer acceptance of ciders are largely uncharacterized. Therefore, this work describes the sensory profiles of commercial Virginia ciders and links these to consumer acceptance. In study 1, a descriptive analysis (DA) of 24 representative ciders from 16 producers in Virginia was conducted: 6 panelists defined 48 descriptive terms for ciders. In study 2, a consumer acceptance study was conducted on 8 ciders from the DA with 67 subjects. For the DA study, 22 descriptors were found to be significant, and multivariate analyses identified 6 groups. In the consumer study, external preference mapping was conducted to identify 3 clusters of consumers with distinctive patterns of sensor preference. The largest cluster favored sweet ciders without off-flavors; a second, smaller cluster favored sweetness even in the presence of off-flavors; and the smallest cluster disliked sweetness in ciders and was intolerant of off-flavors. We describe these groups’ demographic and consumption profiles. All ciders’ basic chemistry was within previously reported ranges, and expected relationships between flavor and chemistry were observed. We were able to establish sensory profiles for Virginia ciders, and tentatively link sensory profiles and consumer acceptance. Overall, this work adds to a small-but-growing body of knowledge about ciders’ sensory properties. Producers can use the sensory profiles in comparison to other regions’ ciders to establish regional sensory profiles, and the consumer preference map to understand how to capitalize on their ciders’ distinct profiles.
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    Impact of Yeast Nutrient Supplementation Strategies on Hydrogen Sulfide Production during Cider Fermentation
    Moore, Amy Nicole (Virginia Tech, 2020-05-18)
    Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), is a negative off aroma produced during yeast fermentation and is common in cider and leads to consumer rejection. H2S has a very low odor detection threshold (ODT) and is often described as "rotten egg". H2S is produced when juice is deficient in yeast nutrients, such as amino acids and yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), which is a common problem in apples since they naturally low in nutrients. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of yeast nutrient addition to cider fermentation by adding four different nitrogen-rich supplements and evaluating the effects on H2S production, fermentation kinetics, and aroma quality during cider. Three yeast strains (M2, EC1118 and ICV OKAY), four yeast nutrients (Fermaid K, Fermaid O, Experimental Nutrient, and DAP) and single addition versus split addition of nutrient were tested. For single addition, all nutrient was added pre-fermentation and for split additions, the first addition was pre-fermentation and the second at one-third total soluble solid (TTS) depletion as measured by °Brix. Sensory evaluation was conducted on selected treatments. The greatest H2S was produced by M2 yeast strain (525 .63 ± 53.31 µg mL-1) while the least H2S on average was produced by EC1118 (118.26 ± 26.33 µg mL-1) and ICV OKAY produced an intermediate amount of H2S (209.26 ± 31.63 µg mL-1). Significant differences were observed between treatments and total H2S production within yeast strains. Yeast strain had the largest effect on H2S production. The second largest effect was yeast nutrient type. Classical text analysis of descriptions of cider aroma were evaluated and 25 attributes were chosen to describe the ciders. Check- all-that-apply (CATA), a rapid sensory technique that askes panelists, revealed that there was no clear pattern between variables tested. This work demonstrates that yeast nutrient type and yeast strain affect H2S production during cider fermentation. These findings provide a basis for improving the effectiveness of strategies used to prevent H2S production in cider fermentation.  
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    Management Strategies for Natural Cider Fermentation: Effects of sulfite addition and acidification in high- and low- tannin cultivars
    Haser, Isabelle M. (Virginia Tech, 2023-05-26)
    Virginia is the largest apple producing state in the Southeast region of the United States and ranks 10th in most cideries in the US. Natural, or un-inoculated, fermentation methods are of interest to cider producers due to the potential for generating unique and complex aromas and flavors via fermentation with naturally present microbiota. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of common pre-fermentation sulfite addition and pH adjustment on cider chemistry and sensory outcomes for naturally fermented high- and low-tannin apple cultivars. Four treatment conditions were applied to both the high- and the low- tannin cultivars: acidification only, sulfites only, acidification and sulfites, and a control with no pre-fermentation juice chemistry adjustment. The eight experimental ciders were fermented using the Pied de Cuve (PDC) method for natural fermentation. Cider chemistry and sensory parameters were determined, and the treatments imparted key differences in both. Key findings were analyzed for pH, titratable acidity, volatile acidity, malic acid, free/total SO2, yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), total polyphenols, residual sugars, and ethanol. For the acidified condition, the pH was lowered to 3.2 using malic acid. Cider pH ranged from 3.36 ± 0.04 to 3.72 ± 0.07, reflecting a general trend toward rising pH over the course of fermentation. Juice tannins were 0.244 ± 0.003 g/L for Harrison and 0.12 ± 0.01 g/L for GoldRush. Tannins decreased during fermentation; however, Harrison ciders maintained a higher range compared to GoldRush. Sensory characteristics were determined using a Descriptive Analysis (DA) with a trained panel which produced 28 descriptors. Results were examined via analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant differences for apple cultivar, acid adjustment, and sulfite use were found for both chemistry and sensory parameters. The interaction between high- and low- tannin content and sulfite use had the most impact on the cider chemistry and sensory attributes. This study helps to shed light on the extent to which pre-fermentation pH adjustment and/or sulfite additions can influence the outcomes of natural cider fermentation in both high- and low-tannin cultivars.
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    Sentinel Vineyards “State of the Grape in the State” Report 1
    Chang, Elizabeth A. B.; Nita, Mizuho; Hatch, Tremain; Acimovic, Dana (2022-08-19)
    • Introduction to the Sentinel Vineyards project • Vineyard update • Disease update • Fruit chemistry update • Introduction to the Novel Varieties project
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    “The uniqueness of one apple versus another.” Exploring producer perspectives of hard cider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States
    Calvert, Martha D.; Neill, Clinton L.; Stewart, Amanda C.; Chang, Elizabeth A. B.; Whitehead, Susan R.; Lahne, Jacob (Taylor & Francis, 2023-10-25)
    Hard cider is growing in popularity throughout the United States (US). Though many scholars have investigated quality and trends in the expanding US cider industry, still little is known about cider producers’ opinions of the products that they make. How do American cider producers value and emplace value onto cider as the industry grows and competes with the broader alcoholic beverage market? This study explored producer perceptions of American hard cider by employing 21 semi-structured interviews with cider-makers throughout Virginia, Vermont, and New York – three leading cider producing states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic US. Interview sessions were subject to reflexive thematic analysis for themes related to preference, consumption, and cider-making. Results suggest that cider producers broadly prefer complex flavors and cider made with cider-specific apples. Yet, cider producers ascribe to a diverse spectrum of values related to the cider-making process, agriculture, and business goals, which influence their preferences and the experiences that they create for other consumers. This research also identifies a chasm in how American “cider” is being constructed and valued, offering broad implications for the domestic cider and apple agriculture industries as well as a template for bridging the divide between producer- and consumer-based food studies.
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    Virginia Sentinel Vineyard Newsletter: 2022 season in review
    Acimovic, Dana; Chang, Elizabeth A. B.; Nita, Mizuho; Hatch, Tremain (2022-12-14)
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    Virginia-grown Cider: How do Cultivar and Fermentation Strategies affect Cider Chemistry, Flavor and Consumer Valuation?
    Littleson, Brenna Nicole (Virginia Tech, 2021-06-02)
    The US cider market has expanded in recent years, but limited research-based information is available on fermentation management. This study investigates how apple cultivar and yeast inoculation affect the chemical and sensory properties of cider. Four ciders were produced in triplicate using combinations of two different apple cultivars - Harrison, a cider cultivar and GoldRush, a dessert cultivar - and two fermentation strategies - inoculated with dry active yeast EC1118 or Pied de Cuvé ambient fermentation. Ciders were analyzed for alcohol content, free/total SO2, titratable acidity, volatile acidity, malic acid, pH, and residual sugar. Sensory evaluation was conducted using Descriptive Analysis with trained panelists. Results were analyzed via ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis. Apple cultivar and fermentation method resulted in significant differences for chemistry and sensory parameters. Malic acid concentration was greater in the control ciders while concentrations of both residual sugar and volatile acidity were higher in the PDC ciders. The interactions effect of cultivar*fermentation method influenced both malic acid and residual sugar concentrations, where concentration differences between control and ambient ciders is smaller for GoldRush than for Harrison, showing that fermentation style produces different results across cultivars. Volatile acidity produced opposite interaction effects as differences between fermentation styles was larger for GoldRush. For sensory attributes, Harrison ciders produced high intensities for multiple attributes, but also higher variability. Multiple sensory descriptors displayed interaction effects as the fermentation method produced different results in different cultivars. This study demonstrates that increasingly popular practices in the industry can produce significantly different ciders.