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Distillations Episode 129: The Science of Taste

Series: Distillations - The Chemistry Podcast
From: Chemical Heritage Foundation
Length: 00:12:59

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Take a moment from your lunch break to appreciate the sense that makes your meal truly enjoyable: taste. On this episode we take a close look at your taste buds. Read the full description.

129-tongue-main_small Take a moment from your lunch break to appreciate the sense that makes your meal truly enjoyable: taste. On this episode we take a close look at your taste buds. First, producer Audrey Quinn examines the tongue map: a teaching tool designating areas on the tongue that react to the five tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. But is it accurate? Next, producer Andrew Stelzer talks to the man who put Stevia—a sweetener 300 times sweeter than sugar—on the market.

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Piece Description

Take a moment from your lunch break to appreciate the sense that makes your meal truly enjoyable: taste. On this episode we take a close look at your taste buds. First, producer Audrey Quinn examines the tongue map: a teaching tool designating areas on the tongue that react to the five tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. But is it accurate? Next, producer Andrew Stelzer talks to the man who put Stevia—a sweetener 300 times sweeter than sugar—on the market.

Broadcast History

Podcast on September 2, 2011

Timing and Cues

0:00 Opening Credits
0:32 Introduction
1:11 The Tongue Map Myth
5:02 Stevia: Sweeter than Sugar
12:17 Closing Credits

Additional Credits

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from Music Alley includes "Sugar Bee," by Robin Syler, and "Sweet," by Sully Johnson. "Twisted Latin," by Lawerence Oakley and Mike Eaves courtesy of DeWolfe Music.

Related Website

http://www.chemheritage.org/distillations