A Map of the Tongue

Did you know the common belief that our taste buds are divided into different sections on the tongue, each individually sensitive to the five basic tastes — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami? I always assumed this was true but apparently, recent research showed that the idea of these distinct sections on the tongue is a tiny myth.

If you didn’t know, here’s how our taste perception is considered to work: sweet flavors are usually sensed at the tip of the tongue, salty is on the front sides, sour often detected on the sides, towards the back, bitter is at the back and lastly, umami is sensed across the tongue, particularly towards the middle. In recent research, it has been said that all parts of the tongue can actually sense the five tastes, but some areas may be slightly more sensitive to one over the other. Also, because our taste buds are located in other parts of the mouth and throat, those all work together with the tongue to create the complex experience of flavor that we love and enjoy when we eat! Next time you eat, try closing your eyes and see if you can differentiate the five tastes!