Like wine, each salame possesses distinctive flavor characteristics. The Salame Flavor Wheel includes the best and most useful terms when describing salame.

There are nine salame characteristics on the wheel (definitions below). For a low value of a characteristic, place the dot near the center of the wheel. If a flavor has a high value, place the dot further out on the wheel. Download your Columbus Salame Flavor Wheel Tasting Notes and plan your salame tasting party today!

Flavor Characteristics

Balanced Appearance

There should be a clear distinction between the lean and fat particles, not a uniform look.

Color

Balanced vibrance and depth of the red hue. A pink color signals fat has emulsified into the product, instead of being a distinct ingredient within the product.

Acidity

Levels of tart and sour.

Salty

Levels of saltiness.

Pork/Meat Flavor

Characteristics of clean, natural, and savory meat.

Earthiness

Subtle nuance reminiscent of earth/mustiness.

Spice

High levels of heat spice and/or other herbs.

Sweet

Slight nutty, sweet flavors inherent to meat.

Firmness

Should have a pleasant firmness that gives slightly.