Comments on: Does caffeine have any affect on how you taste things?

Question: Does caffeine have any affect on how you taste things?

voltairemodern — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:44:33 -0800

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?

By: b1tr0t

b1tr0t — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:45:35 -0800

The coffee is going to have far more impact on your ability to taste wine than the caffeine in the coffee.

By: aquafortis

aquafortis — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:02:02 -0800

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.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:07:27 -0800

Any strong flavour will affect other flavours.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:11:44 -0800

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.