Does caffeine have any affect on how you taste things?

April 14, 2009 2:44 PM

Does caffeine have any affect on how well (or poorly) you can taste things?

I'm curious about whether I should seek out or avoid having caffeine on days that I anticipate wanting to taste things well, e.g. wine tastings, tasting new cheeses, going out for a gourmet meal.

Obviously I wouldn't want to drink a coke directly before tasting a wine. But I don't know whether, say, a coffee after lunch would modify my ability to taste that evening. Any studies done on this sort of thing? Personal anecdotes?

posted by voltairemodern to food & drink (4 comments total)

The coffee is going to have far more impact on your ability to taste wine than the caffeine in the coffee.
posted by b1tr0t at 2:45 PM on April 14, 2009

In taste experiments, caffeine and other methyl xanthines (found in tea and chocolate) have been found to enhance taste by blocking adenosine receptors. Pub Med is a gold mine here! If you want to enhance your ability to taste things in the evening, skip lunch: hunger sharpens the tastebuds.
posted by aquafortis at 3:02 PM on April 14, 2009

Any strong flavour will affect other flavours.
posted by fire&wings at 3:07 PM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Anedoctally from a freelance food writer with a day job and therefore a lover of coffee for its stimulant effect:

Nahh. Caffeine is not a problem. Greasy food, on the other hand, messes with my taste buds for hours.
posted by desuetude at 8:11 PM on April 14, 2009