Food Science Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sucrose |
table sugar derived from cane or beet crops |
| Sugar |
small chain carbohydrate, soluble in solution, that adds a sweet taste to foods |
| Supertaster |
person with increased sensitivity to certain tastes that have specific roles in the food industry eg sommeliers |
| Sweetener |
additive that replaces sugar to provide sweetness, usually with a lower energy content. Can be found in nature or produced synthetically |
| Syneresis |
release of moisture contained within protein molecules that has contracted from a pre-formed gel |
| Tannin |
compound that causes a dry sensation in the mouth when wine, tea, chocolate or fruits are consumed. Can also act as an antioxidant |
| Taste |
one of the basic senses. Food is detected in the mouth by receptors in the tongue. The five tastes are sweet, bitter, sour, salty and umami |
| Taste panel |
group of people having a joint duty to taste and/or evaluate a food or beverage product |
| Tempering |
process used to give chocolate a glossy appearance, 'melt in the mouth’ sensation and prevent chocolate bloom |
| Texture profile analysis |
instrumental test to determine the textural properties of a food |
| Thickener |
substance that increases the viscosity of a liquid |
| Trans fat |
type of unsaturated fat, found in margarines and spreads, not commonly occurring in nature |
| Triacylglycerol |
molecule made up of a glycerol backbone with three fatty acid groups attached. A components of fats and oils. Abbreviated to TAG |
| Triglyceride |
main component of natural fats and oils formed of a glycerol molecule and three fatty acid groups |
| Tuber |
thick, underground part of a stem eg potatoes, cassava |
| Umami |
fifth basic taste, described as a savoury flavour. Usually identified as being similar to the taste of meat or broth |
| Unsaturated fat |
a fatty acid chain with one or more double bond between carbon atoms and is liquid at room temperature |
| Vegetable |
edible plant parts such as roots, leaves and stems eg spinach, carrots, celery |
| Viscosity |
the measurement of a fluid’s internal friction and resistance to flow. Typically used to measure the thickness of a liquid |
| Vitamins |
group of essential nutrients eg B vitamins important for normal growth and nutrition |