Thanksgiving + Taste Buds

As soon as you walk in to the house on Thanksgiving Day, an incredible aroma hits your nostrils and your mouth immediately begins to water. After saying all of your “hellos” and hugging each and every family member, the first thing you want to do is take a look at the Thanksgiving buffet spread – a roasted or deep fried Turkey is the pinnacle of the meal surrounded by delicious macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, sweet potato soufflé, cranberries and so much more. Did you know: how we taste is pretty complicated. It has a lot to do with the tongue and taste buds as well as the nose and psychological cues such as sight.

As far as the tongue and taste buds, we have five main “tastes” – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory. Savory dishes that taste of broth evoke pleasant emotions in most people. They are a signal that the food is rich in protein. A lot of folks who claim they have a “sweet tooth” are overly excited to eat food rich in sugar. That’s another reason why Thanksgiving gives even the pickiest eaters a good experience – most normal vegetables are sweetened and baked to perfection.

Like taste, our sense of smell is also closely linked to our emotions. That is why a bad taste or smell can cause you to automatically dislike certain foods, whereas flavors that are appetizing increase the production of saliva making them truly “mouthwatering”.