What if some people are genetically unable to perceive astringency,

[peebee]

Does this taste thing also run alongside smell? ...

Pretty much. Just slot in a clearer definition of "taste". You can detect five "tastes", exclusively with your tongue: Bitter, sour, sweet, salt and um... err, um.... damn, um-thingy. The Japanese beat us to the last one and foisted an unpronounceable name on us. Then you've got "flavour", and it is that that is the same as smell (and I mix up flavour and taste, even in this thread somewhere?). So, when someone tells you a meal you've lovingly prepared for them "tastes like a worn jockstrap", they might not have stuffed a jockstrap in their mouth, they may only have sniffed one! Flippin' weird thing to be doing even if they haven't stuffed it in their mouth, so punch them on the nose anyway.

If you were a snake (?) you could waggle your tongue in the air, then stick it in a special receptor in the roof of your mouth (if you're a snake, you'd have two 'cos your tongue is forked) which would have the same sensors as your nose so you can precisely pick up "flavours" in the air ("Jacobson's organ" ... I've even looked it up for you!). Excellent for tracking down your own lost jockstraps.


[EDIT: Doesn't need saying? But, a snake has a forked tongue, and two "Jacobsson organs", so it can ... smell (taste) in stereo! So, it can track things that it isn't exactly following. Dogs (mono-sniffers) can only track things it exactly follows, picking up scents left on the ground, and can lose the track and get lost. However smarty-pants that makes the snake appear, I don't recommend punching it on the nose, especially venomous ones.]

 

[MashBag]

Does this taste thing also run alongside smell?
I have a very heightened sense of smell which sometimes drives me mad as I can detect things others can't...or so it seems!

Better get a shower, before replying to this.

 

[peterpiper]

Suck on a wet used teabag is the nearest I can get to describe it. It makes your cheeks pucker when it is astringent.

After you've finished the teabag, try eating a native damson (Prunus insititia).

Though Damsons are also described as astringent, their effect is very different (to me). There's flavour, but it feels like the inside of your whole mouth has been dried out (others, persuaded to partake, all reported the same).

 

[Clint]

Sloe is another...

 

[peebee]

Never heard of "Wild/Native Damsons" or "Prunus Insititia". Pah, bet they don't exist, mythical plums to wind everyone up with. There is a shrubby wild "plum" called a "Bullace", I've come across them ... hang on, I'll look 'em up ... here go, "Prunus Insititia" ... Eh?

Flippin' heck. Right, I demand that anyone who doesn't use or doesn't know the Latin names for plants shall be shot! (Hear, what are you pointing that gun at me for?).

 

[Cwrw666]

Never heard of "Wild/Native Damsons" or "Prunus Insititia". Pah, bet they don't exist, mythical plums to wind everyone up with. There is a shrubby wild "plum" called a "Bullace", I've come across them ... hang on, I'll look 'em up ... here go, "Prunus Insititia" ... Eh?

Flippin' heck. Right, I demand that anyone who doesn't use or doesn't know the Latin names for plants shall be shot! (Hear, what are you pointing that gun at me for?).

We have loads of bullace on our place - when they're properly ripe they're a bit tart but not remotely like eating slopes. You can eat them no problem.
Makes a very pleasant rose wine.

 

[peterpiper]

Sambucs R

Never heard of "Wild/Native Damsons" or "Prunus Insititia". Pah, bet they don't exist, mythical plums to wind everyone up with. There is a shrubby wild "plum" called a "Bullace", I've come across them ... hang on, I'll look 'em up ... here go, "Prunus Insititia" ... Eh?

Flippin' heck. Right, I demand that anyone who doesn't use or doesn't know the Latin names for plants shall be shot! (Hear, what are you pointing that gun at me for?).

Apparently, Bullaces are round, while damsons are oval.

There's rumours that damsons were bred from bullace, by the Romans. So maybe aren't 'native'.
Oval dark purple skinned ones I tried, were off a tree, around 5m tall. But both can be found, as hedgerow plants.

Sambucus Racemosa Plumosa Aurea, is the one that always sticks in my mind. That's not very comfortable. But the berries of European red elderberry (with finely divided yellow leaves), do make good wine.

 

[peterpiper]

We have loads of bullace on our place - when they're properly ripe they're a bit tart but not remotely like eating slopes.

Don't think I would "like eating slopes".

You can eat them no problem.
Makes a very pleasant rose wine.

Maybe they're unlikely to get fully ripe, here in the Scottish Highlands.

Sloes, from 8ft bushes here, are quite small. Maybe 1cm, with a stone that's around half its volume. Wouldn't describe them as edible, but good for sloe gin.