Tarotoast’s Stuff

This is what I used to believe:

(via: http://freda.auyeung.net/5senses/taste.htm)

Apparently, what I learned in elementary school is WRONG!!!!

There are five senses of taste that your brain can interpret:

1. Sweet: sugars
2. Sourness: acids involving H+ ions
3. Saltiness: primarily Na+
4. Bitter: alkaloids
5. Umami: glutamate

Umami? According to Wikipedia:

The four well-known receptors detect sweet, salt, sour, and bitter, although the receptors for sweet and bitter have not been conclusively identified. A fifth receptor, for a sensation called umami, was first theorised in 1908 and its existence confirmed in 2000 (see [1]). The umami receptor detects the amino acid glutamate, a flavor commonly found in meat, and in artificial flavourings such as monosodium glutamate.

In very easy to understand way of explaining, it's the tastiness that MSG brings.

Further Readings:

• The Sense of Taste
• Basic Taste
• The lecture note last quarter