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What’s That Taste?

Taste buds contain receptors to detect molecules in food and are concentrated on the tip, sides and back of the tongue.

Taste buds contain receptors to detect molecules in food and are concentrated on the tip, sides and back of the tongue.

SWEET

The sensation of sweetness is usually caused by sugars such as fructose, lactose, aspartame and saccharin. Other substances (alcohols, amino acids) can also activate cells that respond to sweetness.

 

 

SOUR

Sour flavors are generated mostly by acidic solutions such as lemon juice or organic acids. The sensation is linked to hydrogen ions in solution.

 

 

SALTY

Food containing table salt is mainly what we taste as salty. Mineral salts (potassium or magnesium) can also cause a sensation of saltiness but can also be bitter.

 

 

BITTER

A bitterness sensation is brought about by many different substances, such as quinine or caffeine. About 35 different proteins in sensory cells respond to bitter substances.

 

 

SAVORY

The “umami” taste is somewhat similar to the taste of meat broth. Glutamic is largely responsible for these flavors. Ripe tomatoes, meat and cheese all contain glutamic acid.

 

 

STARCHY (UNCONFIRMED)

Complex carbohydrate molecules are thought to be too large to interact with our taste receptors. Juyun Lim and her research team at Oregon State have found that carbs in rice, potatoes and other starchy foods generate a taste response. (See A Sense for Starch)

 

Adapted from the U.S. National Library of Medicine

 

By Nick Houtman

Nick Houtman is director of research communications at OSU and edits Terra, a world of research and creativity at Oregon State University. He has experience in weekly and daily print journalism and university science writing. A native Californian, he lived in Wisconsin and Maine before arriving in Corvallis in 2005.