Short Wave TASTE BUDDIES: Why Bitter Tastes Better For Some
May 19, 2022
Masha Niv, a biochemistry professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an expert on bitter taste receptors, shares intriguing insights into why some people love bitter flavors like dark chocolate and black licorice. She discusses the genetic basis of taste perception and how a simple taste test can predict individual bitterness tolerance. The conversation highlights the health benefits of bitter compounds and explores their role in self-medication and the immune system. Niv also addresses the impact of COVID-19 on taste and smell recovery.
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PTC Discovery
- In 1931, chemist Arthur Fox accidentally discovered variations in bitter taste perception.
- His colleague found PTC intensely bitter, while he tasted nothing, leading to taste experiments.
Bitter Complexity
- Humans possess 25 different bitter taste receptors, unlike the single receptor for sweet taste.
- This complexity suggests a nuanced role for bitter taste beyond simple aversion.
Bitterness as an Alert
- Masha Niv suggests bitterness serves as an alert system rather than a direct indicator of toxicity.
- It prompts caution and evaluation of potentially harmful substances.