Sensory flavor profiling and mapping of market samples of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

Eight market samples of cumin (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8) from different regions of India were examined for sensory quality by conducting threshold tests, time-intensity (TI) profiling and flavor profiling. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to group the samples. Threshold values ranged from 0.006 to 0.017% with R7 and R8 lots showing lower values for their thresholds (0.006%). Higher intensity of aroma of R7 and R8 was further confirmed by more of a lingering aroma as shown by the TI study. Flavor profiling by quantitative descriptive analysis showed that the market samples of cumin did not differ significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05). Mapping of samples using PCA technique showed, based on intensity of attributes, four distinct groups comprising a) R1 and R3, b) R7, c) R2 and R5 and d) R4 and R8. R6 occupied a position in between a and b.