Exploratory Study on the “Refreshing Impression and Feeling” Brought by Eating Yogurt

Abstract

We conducted an exploratory study focusing on the “refreshing” of yogurt and examined the relationship between emotional reactions and “Kansei” (the sensory impressions of yogurt). Participants rated their emotional reactions and Kansei after eating food items considered to be refreshing (plain yogurt, sparkling water, coffee and grapefruit). The results indicated that eating yogurt increased pleasantness without increasing arousal, suggesting that it induced a calm, gentle and pleasant emotional state. Factor analysis of the emotion scores of these food items revealed four factors: “happiness,” “activity,” “tenderness,” and “healthiness” (a feeling of good health). Refreshing of yogurt was found to be related to the impression of coolness, natural aroma and sourness. Furthermore, it was suggested that refreshing of yogurt was associated with emotions such as “happiness” and “healthiness.”