The sensory characteristics of the dry fermented sausages were assessed by 12 trained panelists. To acquaint panelists with product attributes and intensities, six 1 h training sessions were carried out over a week period prior to sample testing. During this phase, dry, fermented sausages from a variety of manufacturers corresponding to maximum and minimum intensities that might be found for each attribute (1, very low, to 6, very high) were presented to panelists. To test the panel reproducibility, one additional dry-fermented sausage was presented at each session. It was the replicate of the second sample of the set and was served as the last of the session. The panel sessions were held at mid-morning, about 3 h after breakfast. Slices (1.5 mm-thick) of the samples were prepared with a slicing machine (manufacturer, spec) and served to panelists on plates with random codes. The color, aroma, taste (1=extremely undesirable, 6=extremely desirable) and rancid flavor (1=extremely low intensity, 6=extremely high intensity) of the samples were evaluated using 6-point descriptive scale. Panelists were required to clean their palate between samples with water. Five samples were successively evaluated in each session at day 3, 60 and 90 of storage and the sample order was randomized within sessions.