Have you ever walked past a restaurant, caught a whiff of something delicious, and, suddenly, you’re hungry? As these smells excite your senses, your brain conjures up images of a familiar flavor and before you know it, you can almost taste the tang of the BBQ sauce or the char on a steak or burger. What is the link between these two senses—smell and taste? The guide below explains.

Flavor vs. Taste

You decide to duck inside the restaurant emitting the deliciously irresistible aromas. As you begin to sample the food, saliva carries the particles across your tongue where they interact with the pores of the papillae. Each contains 25 different receptors that take in and transmit information to the brain—telling you that the stuffed jalapeno appetizer has a spicy saltiness to it or that the grilled catfish has a pleasing umami taste. Your taste buds are satisfied, but they can’t take all the credit for the pleasure you took from the restaurant meal.

Though people commonly attribute the enjoyment we get from food to our taste buds, it is just a small part of the overall experience. Research suggests that smell accounts for up to 80% of how we perceive flavor. 

Smell’s Contribution

The experience of flavor is a team effort between smell and taste. For example, have you ever noticed how food tastes different—or has no taste at all—when you have a bad head cold? As a person chews, odor receptors carry the information from the mouth, behind their palate, and up the nasal cavity to the brain. If you’re congested, your odor receptors aren’t working properly or they’ve lost their connection between your nasal cavity and the brain—losing the flavor in translation. As a result, we sometimes seek foods with strong flavors—like high-sodium soups—or spicy foods that naturally clear out our sinuses.

All this talk of food got you hungry? Stop by Western Grill Steak House in Andrews, TX, to indulge your senses. With a variety of sumptuous items to choose from ranging from Mexican cuisine to comfort foods to thick steaks charred to perfection, this restaurant has it all. Visit their website to see their full menu before you head over or call them at (432) 523-3887 to arrange catering services.