Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter, and the ever elusive Umami (or savory if you prefer).
These are generally recognized to be the five classes of taste. So, you may wonder, is there a difference between taste and flavor? I would have to say that depends who you ask. I've consulted a number of dictionaries, textbooks, and even wikipedia, and the answers vary widely. But I prefer to think of taste as something specific, a single thing you can pinpoint. And flavor is more the overall experience of what's going on. Can something taste both salty and sweet? Sure. And in the right context, it can be downright delicious. But the combination brings you to a whole new level of flavor sensation. So for the sake of my own sanity, as defined here, taste will be something specific, and flavor will bring the taste experience together to bring us a whole dimension of sensation.
Taste is one of the five senses. Taste is also the one sense that is a reward. We actively seek out taste, while the other senses have a tendency to happen to us. That’s not to say that we don’t seek out the other senses as a reward, but rather that taste doesn't just happen to a person.
You may choose to look at certain things – such as a painting you particularly enjoy, or a photo of a loved one – but you also look at things without really meaning to, which may not be quite as pleasant. You may also touch things without really meaning to, such as bumping into someone in a crowded room. What about smell? Smells happen all the time, like when you’re pumping gas. The fumes are in the air, and when you inhale, you really have no choice but to experience them as they come. At present, I’m choosing to listen to some music, but I’m not choosing to hear the air conditioner humming in the background, or the construction going on next door.
But when was the last time taste happened to you? Taste and smell are linked, so sometimes you can smell something pleasant, like dinner in the oven, and the smell is so overpowering and delicious you can almost taste it. Almost. But that’s not quite the same. Even if you taste something unpleasant, odds are the choice was made to have that experience.
So why do we go for certain foods? What is it about your favorite food that makes it your favorite? The reward system I mentioned above has a lot to do with it. Dopamine (which is also involved with the browning of bruised fruit), is partly responsible. Dopamine is released as a part of the reward system that lets the brain know – hey, I like that, do it again! It’s linked to all kinds of things, including social activity in extroverts (1). It’s also been shown to have some links with taste, especially with novel foods. This effect, however, wears off over time, which for now is a phenomenon I’m going to dub “flavor burnout”.
So, I invite you to come along with me on this adventure, to define the tastes. What they are, what they mean, and why we should pay attention.
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-- Les, MS RD LD
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