There are distinct regions on the tongue where the main tastes are recognized.
The tongue is covered with small bumps, called taste buds that are grouped together in areas with different functions. These taste buds react to simple tastes and those at the back of the tongue detect bitter tastes. Groups of taste buds at the side of the tongue measure sour and salty tastes. The taste of any food is a combination of these 5 basic tastes – Salty, sweet, umami, sour and bitter.
These taste buds, or flavor receptors transmit the different taste information as a message into the brain. It is the brain which processes the information and tells us what food is actually in our mouths.
We have around 10,000 taste buds on our tongues. As we grow older, our taste buds become less sensitive. This is one of the reasons why elderly people may no longer enjoy their food so much.
Why do hot foods taste so good? Hot foods taste better because the heat causes more of the pleasant smells to rise into the nose. These abundant smells contribute to the total taste of the food.
