Taste Test Friday
Lack of general knowledge about balsamic means consumers rely heavily on packaging
While many Americans regularly buy balsamic, few have trained palates that can tease out the different flavor profiles or knowledge about what to look for in a bottle when they go to the store. As a result, they rely heavily on labeling and the general “feel” of the product, according to testers. Payal Martin says she looks for bottles that are “pretty” and Natasha Bonhomme, a public health official, adds that she evaluates whether the packaging “looks authentic.” The reflective gold accents, slightly curly font, Italian flag and grape-leaf rating system all helped the package meet these requirements. Although there was a general consensus that people did not understand the leaf-rating system.