Sensory perception depends not only on the rheological properties of gels but also on the identity of the gelling agent. Orange flavoured gels were prepared from alginate, kappa-carrageenan or agar. Smoothness, flavour and sweetness decreased with gel strength; firmness increased with gel strength. The perceived firmness of alginate gels was greater than that of kappa-carrageenan gels having the same rupture strength or shear modulus; but smoothness, sweetness and flavour were greater in the kappa-carrageenan gels.