Where does this come from, and can I check it?

A pinch can make bitter greens taste sweeter without adding sugar. The figure is taken from Institute of Food Technologists, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a food fact?

Yes. It sits on the Food shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

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The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Salt suppresses bitterness on the tongue

A pinch can make bitter greens taste sweeter without adding sugar Salt does not remove bitter compounds, but it changes how they are perceived. Sodium ions appear to interfere with bitter taste receptors and with the signalling that carries their message, so bitterness fades relative to sweetness and savouriness. That is why a pinch of salt improves coffee, dark chocolate and brassicas that seem harsh on their own. It sits in Mondo's food collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

Institute of Food Technologists

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Olives are cured to remove their bitternessFresh fruit carries oleuropein, a compound that tastes harsh and astringent A cup of salt varies by crystal sizeFine table salt packs far more weight into a spoon than coarse flakes Salt preserves food by drawing out water via osmosisDehydrating muscle tissues deprives bacteria of the liquid required for survival Taste buds replace their sensory receptor cells every two weeksGustatory cells undergo rapid turnover to maintain keen taste perception Taste resolves into five basic categoriesSweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami are detected by separate receptor mechanisms Most of what we call flavour comes from smellAromas rising from the mouth to the nose supply the greater part of flavour

Tags: salt, taste, bitterness

Salt suppresses bitterness on the tongue: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: A pinch can make bitter greens taste sweeter without adding sugar. The figure is taken from Institute of Food Technologists, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a food fact?: Yes. It sits on the Food shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.