Tasty facts for kids

The word tasty describes something that has a pleasant or strong flavor. It's often used when we really enjoy the food or drink we are having. But "tasty" can also refer to other things, like the sense of taste itself, or even a popular online video series.

What is the Sense of Taste?

The sense of taste is one of our five main senses, along with sight, hearing, touch, and smell. It allows us to tell the difference between sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors in food and drinks. This sense is super important because it helps us enjoy what we eat and also warns us if something might be bad for us, like spoiled food.

How Do We Taste Food?

When you eat, tiny bumps on your tongue called papillae help you taste. Many of these papillae contain even smaller groups of cells called taste buds. An adult usually has between 2,000 and 8,000 taste buds. Each taste bud has special cells that can detect different flavors.

When food mixes with your saliva, the chemicals in the food touch these taste cells. These cells then send signals to your brain. Your brain quickly figures out what you are tasting. This whole process happens in a blink of an eye!

The Five Basic Tastes

For a long time, people thought there were only four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. But now, scientists agree there are five:

• Sweet: This taste often comes from sugars. It tells us that food might be a good source of energy. Think of candy, fruit, or honey.
• Sour: This taste comes from acids. It can be found in lemons, vinegar, or some yogurts. A little sourness can be refreshing, but too much might mean something is unripe or spoiled.
• Salty: This taste comes from salts, like the salt we add to food. Salt is important for our bodies to work correctly. Chips, pretzels, and many savory foods are salty.
• Bitter: This taste is often a warning sign that something might be poisonous or harmful. However, many healthy foods like coffee, dark chocolate, and some vegetables (like broccoli) also have a bitter taste.
• Umami: This is a savory, meaty, or brothy taste. It was discovered by a Japanese scientist and means "pleasant savory taste." You can find umami in foods like mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, cheese, and cooked meats.

How Smell Affects Taste

Have you ever noticed that food tastes bland when you have a stuffy nose? That's because your sense of smell works very closely with your sense of taste. While your tongue detects the five basic tastes, your nose helps you pick up on all the other complex flavors and aromas in food. Together, taste and smell create the full experience of flavor. This is why chefs often focus on both the smell and taste of their dishes.

Tasty: The Video Series

"Tasty" is a very popular online video series created by the company BuzzFeed. It's famous for its short, fast-paced videos that show how to make delicious recipes. These videos are often shared widely on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. "Tasty" videos are known for their bright colors, close-up shots of food, and easy-to-follow instructions, making cooking look fun and simple for everyone.