The next time you catch a cold and can’t taste your favourite food, remember — it’s not your tongue that’s the problem. It’s your nose! Surprising as it sounds, most of what we call “taste” is actually smell.
Your tongue can detect only five basic flavours — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (a savoury taste found in cheese or soy sauce). But your nose adds hundreds of details to those flavours. When you chew, tiny scent molecules travel from the back of your mouth to your nose, triggering special smell receptors. This teamwork between tongue and nose creates the full taste experience.
That’s why strawberries taste dull when your nose is blocked — your tongue still senses “sweet,” but your brain misses the fruity smell. Scientists call this process retronasal olfaction, meaning “smelling through the mouth.”
Smell also helps you remember. Ever noticed how a food’s aroma can bring back a childhood memory? That’s because the brain area that processes smell is closely linked to memory and emotion.
So yes — your nose really does help you “taste.” Without it, pizza would just taste salty and bread would be plain. The next time you enjoy your favourite meal, take a moment to breathe it in first. You’re not just smelling your food — you’re tasting it twice!