We put that object on our tongue – and in a few seconds – we ‘feel’ something.
Bitter.
Sweet.
Salty.
Sour.
“Umami” – the new age flavor which is found in things like tomatoes. (Incidentally the color of the tomato – changes its taste)
There are 5 reactions that science has identified.
This ‘feeling’ though – ranges from amazing – to repulsive. Some people find broccoli amazing and pineaple on pizza equally repulsive. And a Biryani without cloves doesn’t work – but 10 cloves in the mouth will need an ER intervention.
Lemongrass only smells amazing though. There’s really nothing awesome about its taste – unless you pair it with something like ginger and lemon.
And maybe a touch of gin.
Did you catch the connection…?
Taste and smell go together.
Taste – is one of the ways the brain identifies safety and danger. It’s not to say we don’t enjoy food because of its variation across the 5 flavors that science has identified.
But it is to say – that the brain uses a lot more information to process what we put on our sensor called the tongue.
Now hold on – the tongue isn’t just that muscle we’ve come to use for a lot more than just eating. I mean are you hearing the words in your own head right now ? Where does language come from… ??
Without that tongue – what will the brain do ??
I digress. Back to taste.
So there are taste buds – these little sensory receptors all over the surface of the tongue. Through subjective testing science established which section of the tongue identifies with which of the 5 reactions.
A Tongue-map if you will.
As you know already – all of it is just stupid. All of us humans know this is not how taste works.
So then where are we standing ?
If you cook – or love to eat – or have a remote connection with flavor – please read this –
“The plants don’t need to put taste in their food. Nothing in their lives will change if their fruits taste awful”
But for us humans – it’ll change everything.
That ‘taste’ that every chef so proudly carries forth – is nature’s communication with her farmer. She will grow amazing flavor and nutrition – which the farmer will harvest and supply into food processing industry – and that’s how we get our awesome food.
Hold on – awesome food – who said that ??? Food tastes like sawdust these days – or am I just imagining this ?
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