QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF SPECIALTY COFFEES FROM THE UPPER NORTHWEST OF RIO DE JANEIRO
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/z3zdgs30Keywords:
Denomination of origin, coffee culture, coffea arabica, coffea canephora, specialty coffee, sensory profileAbstract
Coffee culture plays a prominent role in Brazil's economy, being the world leader in coffee production and export, in addition to being the runner-up in consumption. However, it is important to emphasize that most producing regions in the country still do not have a Geographical Indication (GI) for their specialty coffees, which results in the limitation of the identification, appreciation, and commercialization of these products. Given this scenario, the objective of this study was to conduct a survey of sensory attributes of specialty coffees grown in the Alto Noroeste region of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Data from sensory evaluations of coffees were collected from institutional partners through the history of contests and specialty coffee exhibitions held in municipalities of the Alto Noroeste of Rio de Janeiro. The survey of data from the sensory evaluations of the events held revealed that the coffees of the Alto Noroeste possess a profile characterized by a predominant floral aroma, high sweetness, citric acidity, and creamy texture. Fruity notes, such as yellow fruits and purple fruits, in addition to nuances of caramel, chocolate, and honey, were frequently highlighted. The uniformity in the quality of the cups and the presence of aromatic variations, such as liqueur-like and woody notes, highlighted the complexity and diversity of the coffees of the region. The interaction between altitude, climate, and processing practices contributes to the uniqueness of the coffees. The study concluded that, to promote and value the coffees of the Alto Noroeste of Rio de Janeiro in the global market, it is important to consider investment in research with scientific rigor and that the contests and other events of evaluation and presentation of specialty coffees motivate local producers to engage in the improvement and quality of beverages that these coffees provide to consumers. These efforts will be crucial to achieve the Geographical Indication by Denomination of Origin and strengthen the competitive positioning of the region's coffees in the international specialty coffee market.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriela Luiza Pacheco da Silva, Lucas Moretz-Sohn David Vieira, Brenda Pereira da Silva, Maria Clara Nogueira da Silva Paiva, Lanusse Cordeiro de Araújo, Kauã Richard Araujo Branco, Hilton Lopes Galvão
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