Light Sweetness Experiment

How Does the Color of a Drink Affect the Way Sweetness is Perceived

Niah M. Wilson and Eman Shek

Parkview High School

October 11, 2017

Abstract

In the experiment, ten participants were chosen, five boys and five girls. Each participants would have three cups with three different colored liquids placed in front of them. In order to get the most accurate taste from each participants, each participants would receive some crackers and water to cleanse their pallet for each transition. Before drinking the liquids each participant observed each of the drinks. All automatically said the red liquid would have a fruit punch flavor, the blue liquid would have a blueberry flavor and the clear liquid might be water. After the observation, the participants

Based on Lavin and Lawless’(1998) experiment, subjects perceived a drink as sweeter when it was dark red rather than a lighter version of that color. As a result, many sodas and drinks sold are darker colors with red or purple hues; it is more visually satisfying because people perceive dark red food as ripe and, therefore, sweeter. In Strugnell’s (1997) experiments, he concluded that when a drink was compared to differently colored versions, blue was perceived to be least sweet. By having 10 high school students put a dark red, clear, and blue version of the same drink in order of sweetness, the subjects visual first impression of the drink relating to the perception of its sweetness was

There was one clear drink, a dark red version, and a light blue version of the same drink all placed in clear cups. The subjects were asked to taste each drink and rank them in order of sweetness. In order to derive the most accurate results the participants will eat crackers and drink water between each drink test, to cleanse their pallets. Once all data is recorded it will be revealed to the participants all of the drinks they tasted were exactly the same drink just colored differently. The assessed data may or may not reveal the relationship between visual perception and taste perception.

Results

Ten participants would be drinking three different liquids, to determine each liquids’ sweetness.

In the experiment according to the data that was collected from the ten participants, Liquid A was predominantly labeled the most sweet, then Liquid B, in many instances, was put in the middle,and Liquid C was frequently chosen as the least sweet. Three of the male participants said that all three liquids tasted the same. In color order from sweetest to least would be red, clear, and blue. After being told that all the drinks were all the same flavor, but just with different colors the participants were surprised and there other two knew it.