The panel consisted of 7 highly-trained panelists (4 females and 3 males, aged between 26 and 48 years-old), with wide testing experience with fruits and vegetables from the Research Group “Food Quality and Safety” of the UMH (Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain). The panel has previously worked with jujube and developed its own reference materials for fresh fruits (Galindo et al., 2015); besides, specific attributes of dried products were also added to the list of attributes to be evaluated (e.g. hay-like, woody, and burnt flavors).
Samples (5–6 pieces) under evaluation were served in disposable, odor-free, plastic plates to each panelist. Samples were served at room temperature and the testing room was kept at 22 ± 2 °C. A combination of natural and non-natural (fluorescent) light was used.