What is organoleptic analysis?

Organoleptic means “taken in by the 5 senses.” Our sensory organs are providing information to the brain all the time. And they can be trained to focus on specific aspects of the eating experience.

In food science, organoleptic analysis means evaluating the appearance, texture/mouthfeel, smell, and taste of a product. 

The ears may also come into play, in terms of crunch or maybe packaging noises if that’s something you’re testing.

Whatever sensory characteristics we’re assessing, we start with a set of questions or parameters we’re trying to understand better in an objective way.

For cannabis edibles companies, organoleptic evaluation comes in two main forms: descriptive analysis (with a small number of trained experts) and consumer analysis (with at least 100 untrained consumers).

Who needs expert sensory analysis?

This isn’t a service I suggest to everyone. It can be a big investment, and isn’t always necessary for edibles formulation. 

A lot of times I can solve problems for you, without needing an outside panel of sensory experts. 

And sometimes you can get what you need from a less expensive consumer analysis process.

But for those who need it, expert sensory analysis is an unmatched tool:

• Established cannabusinesses wanting to disrupt the market with top-quality edibles
• New edibles producers who don’t yet have an audience to test
• Problem-solvers trying to figure out why an edible product failed
• Anyone comparing two variations of a recipe, for which is best & why

That said, don’t just go out there and hire a sensory team, thinking that’s your ticket to greatness. 

Again, your specific circumstances and context determine whether or not you need this service. Always consult with a cannabis food scientist first, to see if it’s right for you.

What are the benefits of expert sensory analysis?

This is sort of a two heads are better than one principle. But there are multiple heads. And each of those heads is packed with knowledge, experience, and trained sensory organs that are specifically attuned to the elements that matter most to your customers.

What makes an edibles customer return for more versus seek products elsewhere? Well sometimes even they don’t know why.

But a panel of experts can offer precision and answers that a consumer focus group can’t.

• Pinpoint exactly what isn’t working
• Evaluate why, not just what consumers prefer
• Save time & money in the long run
• Get detailed, scientific quality control
• Fix bitterness or other off-flavor issues

And of course, at Elevated Edibles we would run this service during formulation, before it becomes a problem you have to solve.

What expert sensory analysis includes:

This would typically be an add-on to a formulation project, in which case we’d have our prototype products to test.

But you could also start with your existing edibles product and the leading similar product to figure out why consumers prefer your competitor’s.

In any case, this service starts with a product we’re testing. Then we design the experiment from there, figuring out exactly what we want to answer.

Here’s what you get:

• Experienced sensory experts with relevant expertise
• Questionnaire (aka: Sensory Ballot)
• Double-blind tasting setup
• Report with qualitative & quantitative results
• Suggestions about your next steps & strategy

Along the way you’ll have opportunities for feedback and adjustments, to make sure you’re getting the cannabis edibles answers you seek.