Taste

Definition

Taste refers to the sensory experience that occurs when substances in food and drink interact with taste receptors on the tongue. It is one of the five basic senses that allows us to perceive different flavors.

Related terms

Gustation:

Gustation is another term used to describe the sense of taste. It involves the detection and perception of different tastes such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Papillae:

Papillae are small bumps or protrusions on the surface of our tongues where taste buds are located. They contain taste receptor cells that help detect flavors.

Olfaction:

Olfaction refers to our sense of smell. The combination of both taste and smell greatly influences our perception of flavor.