1. The 5 Tastes
What are the five basic tastes?
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami
Give an example of a salty food and a sweet food.
Salty - chips, fries, burger
Sweet - candy, soda, apples
What is a describing word for popcorn? (Give two)
Buttery, salty, chewy
True or False: Spices are a relatively new discovery (in the last 1000 years, such as when Columbus was exploring America)
FALSE! Spices have been documented as far back as Mesopotamia and beyond
True or False: Everyone has the same number of taste buds
FALSE! Some people have more or less, and can even be classified as supertasters if they have a lot more
What are some examples of bitter foods found in nature?
Vegetables such as broccoli or brussels sprouts
True or false: There are specific regions/parts of the tongue that are associated with specific tastes.
FALSE! There are specific taste buds, but not regions
What is a describing word for lemon juice? (Give two)
Sour, tart, bright, dehydrating
How do humans use spices in the past and present? (Two main ways)
For food and for medicine
How does your sense of taste change as you get older?
It eventually decreases - your taste buds regenerate every 10-14 days, but less and less grow back as you get older
What is the difference between taste and flavor?
Taste is what the tongue actually experiences, while flavor is a combo of three sensory experiences - taste, smell, and feeling
What is an example of an "umami" food? (give at least two examples)
soy sauce, mushrooms, broth
What are some bad examples of describing words for food? (give at least three)
Yummy, gross, good, bad
Why do humans use spices? (two main ways)
Someone added something bitter to your dish and ruined the flavor. How do you fix it?
Add something sweet to counter or balance the bitterness
How does smell impact flavor?
The smell adds to the flavor of the food. If you have no sense of smell, you will experience less flavor in your food.
What can the bitter or sour tastes represent in nature?
That something is unsafe to eat
What are some describing words you might use to describe a stack of pancakes? Give at least four
Tall, sweet, fluffy, warm, springy, soft, maple-y
What is the world's most expensive spice?
Saffron!
Why do humans crave salt?
Salt helps regulate the water in our body
Why is it important for humans to be able to differentiate (tell apart) different tastes?
Tastes signal different things to the body such as if a food is safe to eat
What are some adjectives you might use for chocolate? (give at least four)
Nutty, sweet, bitter, chalky, sticky, melty
What was black pepper used for before it was a common food spice?
Black pepper corns were used as money!
What spice is known for it's golden color and possible health benefits?
Turmeric