Application Studies / Licorice-style Candies Tested With Six Methods

Licorice-style Candies Tested With Six Methods

Industry:

Food

Confectionery

Attributes measured:

puncture

firmness

stickiness

shearing

penetration

flexibility

resistance

tension

stiffness

repeatability

Background

The textural attributes of extruded ropes of licorice are important to the consumer experience. The ropes must hold their twisted shape, be able to stay cohesive when pulled and separated from their bunches, be flexible enough to handle yet firm enough to offer meaningful resistance when bitten, and be capable of being bitten through cleanly and then easily chewed into small pieces that are palatable to swallow. This study examined how a variety of physical properties of hollow, extruded, twisted licorice ropes can be quantified with a TA.XTPlus Connect Texture Analyzer. The test methods evaluated were designed to emulate consumer sensory experiences. Two brands of extruded licorice ropes were tested, Twizzlers and Red Vine.