Although vinegar has been consumed since ancient times, the demand for developing this product from unconventional fruits has increased in recent years. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the perception of consumers in the South Region of Brazil regarding vinegar and explore the potential of regional raw materials for its production. The study was carried out with a total of 1,970 participants using an online questionnaire divided into five sections. Through word association technique, it was noted that age group influenced on the perception experienced by those participants who are regular consumers of vinegar regarding its attributes and properties. Moreover, the type of vinegar consumed was correlated with the income of the participants. Moreover, some fruits native to the South Region of Brazil, such as jaboticaba, orange passion fruit, red araçá, uvaia, guabiroba, and feijoa, showed great potential for application in vinegar production.
Practical applications
This study identified the factors that influence on consumer perception experienced by people who regularly consume vinegar, as well as their attitudes related to its use, consumption, and application. Besides, it showed the importance of applying new raw materials in the vinegar preparation process, highlighting the potential of native fruits from the South Region of Brazil, thus providing relevant information for the vinegar market and an opportunity for the development of new products.