Short Wave TASTE BUDDIES: Science of Sour
Mar 9, 2022
This week’s guest is Katherine Wu, a Staff Writer at The Atlantic, famed for her insightful piece on the science of sourness. She takes listeners on a delightful tour of sour flavors, engaging in a fun taste test that highlights the peculiarities and complexity of this intriguing taste. Katherine explores the evolutionary mystery of sourness, discussing how different species, including fish, perceive flavors. She also shares fascinating insights about our physiological responses to sour tastes and their historical connections to health. Get ready to pucker up!
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Katherine Wu's Sour Love
- Katherine Wu, inspired by her love for sour foods, wrote "The Paradox of Sour".
- She even enjoys sucking on lemons, highlighting her extreme fondness for sourness.
The Diversity of Taste
- While humans have five classic tastes, we may perceive over a dozen, including calcium and metallic tastes.
- Some animals have lost certain tastes; carnivores often can't taste sweetness, and pandas can't taste umami.
The Mystery of Sour
- Sourness is a taste present in most animals, suggesting an evolutionary purpose.
- However, its purpose remains unclear; it's neither wholly aversive nor entirely appealing, like bitter or sweet tastes.