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Design and Study of Alcohol-Free and Sugar-Free Cocktails in a Real Consumption Context

In recent years, the demand for alcohol-free beverages has increased, prompting the emergence of substitute products for cocktails and mixed drinks that can compete with those traditionally offered in the HORECA channel or supermarkets. Additionally, society, with a focus on healthy living, expects these beverages not to provide “empty” or low-quality calories, making the presence of low-sugar or sugar-free drinks a requirement for users seeking to meet their needs without compromising the hedonic or enjoyment aspect. Since food choices are linked to factors related to the composition/ingredients of the drink, but also to the person and the consumption context, this project is framed within the study of the perception and acceptance of alcohol-free and sugar-free cocktails, and the reasons that lead consumers to choose, or not choose, these types of beverages. This contributes to identifying the requirements that potential substitutes for non-alcoholic and sugar-free cocktails and mixed drinks must meet.

The objective of NoLo-EDARIAK is to design alcohol-free and sugar-free cocktails and determine their acceptance in a real context, as well as the reasons that lead consumers to choose such an option.

BCC Innovation, the technology center in gastronomy of the Basque Culinary Center, focuses its research studies on generating reasoned knowledge about what we eat and how we eat it. This project is part of the strategy of the research line in sensory analysis, aimed at developing scientific knowledge about the relationship between food-people-context and consumer choice and preference. The general purpose is to understand the mechanisms behind all the factors that contribute to food choices in order to influence people’s eating habits and choices, thus promoting healthier eating habits.

The project is funded by the Department of Economic Development and Infrastructure of the Deputy Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry of the Basque Government.