Taste isn’t just about your tongue. In fact, what we call “flavor” is a combination of taste, smell, and somatosensory signals (like texture and temperature).
At the center of this system are clusters of 50-100 receptor cells, known as taste buds, primarily located on the circumvallate papillae at the back of the tongue. These receptors detect five core taste modalities - sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami - through a combination of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels, triggering a cascade of cellular signals that tell your brain what you’re tasting.
People naturally vary in how many receptors they have and how strongly they respond to each flavor. Some are supertasters, with a heightened sensitivity to bitter or spicy foods, while others are non-tasters, who may need stronger flavors to feel satisfied.