16 May 2013

"Retronasal olfaction" - smelling food after it's in the mouth

As most readers of Edible Geography will know, smell makes up to ninety percent of what we perceive as flavour, primarily through a process known as retronasal olfaction, in which odour molecules travel from the mouth to the nose via the throat as we eat.
More at the link.

3 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 16, 2013 at 10:55 AM

    Also see "Retrohaling", which is what cigar smokers do to heighten the smoking experience.

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  2. Jack NolteMay 16, 2013 at 1:04 PM

    The picture makes it look as though gustation is UNDER the tongue, which is almost 100% wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Big BoppaMay 16, 2013 at 4:33 PM

    I first learned about this many years ago when I had my first taste of really good (i.e.strong) Polish horseradish.

    ReplyDelete