Can you change what you taste by adjusting what you hear? New research suggests you might be able to — but not all kinds of sounds may work equally well.
All Things Considered took a look at some new research from The University of Oxford on just how music impacts the taste of what we eat — and what they found suggests that certain flavors could be best brought out by certain sounds:
Researchers at the University of Oxford have been looking for a link between sound and taste. They’ve found that higher-pitched music — think flutes — enhances the flavor of sweet or sour foods. Lower-pitched sounds, like tubas, enhance the bitter flavors.
Before you go looking for a medley of Sousa marches to accompany your holiday party’s cheese plate, it’s worth noting though that music is just one facet of how accompanying sound may boost taste — just as important may be hearing the sound of the food (the sound of a crisp apple slice snapping for instance, or the crust of bread breaking) itself.
You can listen to the whole piece right here.
