Taste is one of the five senses. That much we all know. But how many of us truly understand how flavor works? Probably not many. For instance, did you know that taste involves more than just the tongue? It also involves the olfactory system, saliva, and something known as ‘common chemical sense’.
The sense of taste is so complex that many things can alter it. Something as seemingly insignificant as the common cold can affect food tastes. That is why being sick often means losing your appetite for certain foods. You might even lose your sense of flavor when you have a cold or the flu.
Taste and the Tongue
We typically associate taste with the tongue. This is obvious and natural. The language contains all the nerves that send signals to the brain, signs that tell your brain what food tastes like. Interestingly enough, nerves are scattered throughout the tongue in various locations.
It used to be thought that the tongue was divided into different segments, with each part responsible for recognizing one of the five types of tastes. But research has proven this to be false. There are only three specialized nerves related to taste. Those nerves and all the others responsible for the sense of taste are found throughout the tongue. The taste buds must be started for the nerves to be activated.
And for the taste buds to do what they do, you need saliva. When you put a piece of food in your mouth, saliva immediately breaks it down. Meanwhile, it also stimulates the taste buds to recognize different molecules and activate the brain’s nerves that send taste messages.
Taste’s Link to Smell
So, where does the olfactory system come into play? Believe it or not, your sense of taste is also linked to your smell. The olfactory system is responsible for the latter purpose. In short, odor molecules trigger olfactory nerves in the same way flavor molecules activate the nerves in the tongue. But here is the thing: the olfactory system is engaged before the tongue and mouth.
As you smell a given food, your olfactory nerves immediately send messages to your brain. Those messages tell your brain what the expected taste should be once you finally put the food in your mouth. Your sense of smell almost acts like a warm-up for the main attraction.
This explains why the sense of taste doesn’t work so well when you are congested. If you cannot smell your food, the brain doesn’t know what to expect when you put it in your mouth. The effect is so profound that you could eat some spicy Mexican candy from Chilito Loco and never know just how hot it is – because congestion is getting in the way.
The Common Chemical Sense
Finally, humans have what is known as the common chemical sense. This sense is a defense mechanism to protect against extreme temperatures. When it is engaged with the intention of taste, it makes it possible for your brain to recognize things like hot chili powder and excellent mint flavors. The sense of taste is not strictly a function of the tongue. The tongue relies on the olfactory system, the common chemical sense, and the reaction between saliva and taste buds to the role. If any of those things are slightly off, your sense of taste will be altered.
