Objective Characterization of the Mouthfeel of Gum Solutions

Abstract

SUMMARY A correlation was established between the mouthfeel characteristics of gum solutions and their rheological behavior. Gums that are very slimy in the mouth deviate only slightly from Newtonian viscosity. The degree of sliminess decreases with increasing deviations from the Newtonian character, and gums that exhibit a high degree of shear thinning are nonslimy in the mouth. This finding enables selection of proper gums for specific consistency effects by simple reference to the shape of the viscosity vs. the rate‐of‐shear curve.