Independently of the type of processing used, the processed
fruits reached a mass of 10–14 g with a moisture
content of 20% and had a maximum width of 2.5–3.4 cm,
height of 3.9–4.7 cm and thickness of 1.2–1.5 cm. The
sensory descriptive profile of the traditional product, when
evaluated by a sensory panel test, is the following: brown–
red uniform colour (Fig. 1b), sweet and slight acid, with a
not too hard–not too soft texture and presenting elasticity.
Concerning GH1, it was considered very similar to the
traditional product, with the same rate of global appreciation,
but with lower colour uniformity (Fig. 1c), sweetness
and elasticity. GH2 was similar to GH1, although obtaining
a lower global appreciation, possibly due to an even lower
acidity (Fig. 1d). HAT presented the sensory profile close
to the traditional product concerning colour uniformity,
sweetness and toughness but it was not appreciated due to
the colour tonality (yellow-orange) (Fig. 1e) and slight less
acidity. This product, although having the accurate organoleptic
characteristics except the colour, was rejected by
the panellists due to the inaccurate colour when compared
with the traditional product.
Before analysis, the pulp of the fresh and dried pears
was collected, ground and freeze-dried.