Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the quality characteristics of Jeju mandarin orange jellies containing sugar (control) and sugar derivative sweeteners (erythritol, isomaltooligosaccharide, sorbitol, and xylitol) to be consumed by the elderly. The gelling agents were carrageenan and gellan gum at the concentration of 0.27%, respectively. The average age of the subjects for the acceptance test was 78. The lightness (L), redness (a), and yellowness (b) values of the carrageenan gel were higher than those of the gellan gum gel using the same sugars. The L, a, and b values of the carrageenan gel made with sugar derivative sweeteners were higher than those of the respective gel made with sugar. Whereas there were almost no differences between the color values of the gellan gum gels made with sugar and sugar derivative sweeteners, respectively. The gelling and melting temperatures of the carrageenan gel with erythritol were highest and those of the respective gel with xylitol were lowest among the sugar derivative sweeteners. The gelling and melting temperatures of the gellan gum gels with erythritol and isomaltooligosaccharide, respectively, were lower, and those of the respective gel made with xylitol were higher compared to that with sugar. There was no break down in the gellan gum gel. The break down rate of the carrageenan gel made with isomaltooligosaccharide was highest and that of the respective gel with xylitol was lowest among the sugar derivative sweeteners. The hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, and chewiness of the gellan gum gel were greater compared to the carrageenan gel. The adhesiveness levels of the carrageenan gels made with sugar derivative sweeteners were lower, and their springiness was higher than the respective gel with sugar. All the TPA characteristics of the gellan gum gels made with erythritol and xylitol, respectively, were higher than the respective gel with sugar. The rupture properties of the gels were the same as their TPA characteristics. The sensory acceptance of the carrageenan and gellan gum gels made with sugar were highest among all the sweeteners. There were no significant differences in the sensory acceptance scores of the carrageenan gels made with xylitol, erythritol, and sugar, respectively, and there were also no significant differences in the sensory acceptance scores of the gellan gum gels made with xylitol, sorbitol, and sugar, respectively. Xylitol was preferred in both the carrageenan and gellan gum gels. Thus, xylitol appears to be an appropriate alternative sweetener to sugar in Jeju mandarin orange jelly for consumption by the elderly, with regard to the acceptability and stability of the gel.
