Cigar Science with Rob II: Ability to detect flavors

[Research-Colin-cl]

Again, nicely done! It is good to view this in the context of other elements of taste, smell and memory. Just because one person has fewer receptors doesn't mean that the person is unable to percieve more complex or varieties of flavor. It just means that they are, by nature, less likely. Fortunately they can train themselves to identify flavors and remember them.

This reminds me of the philosophical question, when I see the color 'red', is it the same thing you see when you see 'red'? This is largely unknowable but nevertheless we can all agree on a name for certain flavors (ie bitter).

I suspect that I am "normal" on the scales and therefore I run into two barriers. One is that I don't know the word for a flavor I recognize (memory barrier) and the other is that sometimes it is hard to pick individual flavors out of a complex of tastes. Over the years though, I've been more dilligent about asking friends and waiters what different things were in foods or in gardens and that has expanded my cigar vocabulary and reviewing abilities dramatically.

Just some thoughts-
Thanks again, these science articles are great.

[bobbyg29-cl]

Originally Posted by Research-Colin

Again, nicely done! It is good to view this in the context of other elements of taste, smell and memory. Just because one person has fewer receptors doesn't mean that the person is unable to percieve more complex or varieties of flavor. It just means that they are, by nature, less likely. Fortunately they can train themselves to identify flavors and remember them.

This reminds me of the philosophical question, when I see the color 'red', is it the same thing you see when you see 'red'? This is largely unknowable but nevertheless we can all agree on a name for certain flavors (ie bitter).

I suspect that I am "normal" on the scales and therefore I run into two barriers. One is that I don't know the word for a flavor I recognize (memory barrier) and the other is that sometimes it is hard to pick individual flavors out of a complex of tastes. Over the years though, I've been more dilligent about asking friends and waiters what different things were in foods or in gardens and that has expanded my cigar vocabulary and reviewing abilities dramatically.

Just some thoughts-
Thanks again, these science articles are great.

Thanks Colin! I have had a similar experience...I find that I am a better cook since I started smoking cigars b/c I pay a lot more attention to flavor then I ever did before and I do try to seek out new flavors so I can learn to detect them.

[Tampabaycigarradio-cl]

Great info.

I have always heard about a link between taste and smell. I have super bad allergies and hence I am a mouth breather with little to no sense of smell. I wonder if I were a "super taster" would the fact that I cannot smell much, if it would affect my perception of taste?