Fruit attributes. “Bravo de Esmolfe” apples were hand harvested in
September in a NE of Portugal orchard and transported to the
laboratory on the same day. The fruit were selected for their
uniformity in size (diameter 65 to 70 mm), and freedom from
defects while immature fruits were discarded. Raw material was
analysed for external colour, firmness, pH, reducing sugars, total
soluble solids content (SSC) and aw.
The average values found for the physical-chemical raw
material quality attributes were: firmness 9.4€0.10 (N); L*
78.3€0.50; a* 10.9€0.10; b* 36.60€0.07; pH 4.48€0.06 and SSC
(%) 13.8€0.17; reducing sugars 4.5(%); aw 0.9 (explained by a high
solid soluble and sugar contents).