In this work sensory characteristics (appearance - color, brilliance, shape and surface; texture - structure, break, firmness and chewiness; aroma - odor and taste) of dietary chocolates of different compositions were evaluated, in parallel with color parameter measurements. Color was determined instrumentally on the top and bottom surfaces, using a "MINOLTA" Chroma meter CR 400 thristimulus colorimeter. Sensory evaluation was performed by a group of experienced panelists immediately after the production (0 - 30 days), and then after 90, 180, 270 and 360 days of storage under ambient conditions (t = 18 - 20°C). Results were statistically analyzed by the two-factorial analysis of variance (MANOVA) and with the LSD - test. It was concluded that the storage time up to one year had statistically highly significant (p < 0.01) effects on the sensory attributes of chocolate, as well as on instrumentally measured color parameters.
Keywords: Dietary chocolates; color measurement; sensory attributes; storage.