What does your nose taste?

Your sense of taste consists of taste buds on your tongue and in your mouth. The taste buds can distinguish five basic tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salt and umami (savoury).

When the taste buds come into contact with a substance that causes a particular taste, your nerves transmit this to your brain, which recognizes the taste. So your tongue can distinguish five tastes, but our noses can smell an infinite number of things.

Your nose is much more sensitive than your tongue and is very important for tasting. Just try closing your eyes and nose when you eat something, and you will be able to taste much less well.