How You Taste

 

So when we think of tasting something, we usually think of the tongue.  What is strange is that most of what we taste is not sensed by the tongue at all.  Our tongue’s ability to taste is actually very limited.  It has only 5 basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and something called “umami”, which is best described as a “savory” taste found in cheese, tomatoes, and steak, among other foods that are well, savory!.

Most of our taste is actually flavor, which is due to our sense of smell.  The majority of my patients who complain of loss of sense of smell also complain of loss of taste as well.  So why does loss of smell cause loss of taste?  The easiest way is to see how well you taste things while holding your nose.  Whether it is coffee, peanut butter, or pizza, many foods have a distinctive smell that we will notice even before we eat them.  

Speaking of, I love pizza. 

 
 

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Teach & Learn, ThroatErin Shellenbergertaste, coloring activity, anatomy, educational, throat, mouth, tongue