Why Does Spicy Taste 'Hot' and Minty Taste 'Cool'?
A Quick Question answer that explains the chemistry that makes minty things taste “cool” and spicy things taste “hot”. ---------- Like SciShow? Want to help support us, and also get...
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You know how it is: you unwrap a mint, pop it in, and suddenly your mouth is a wintrywonderland of soothing flavor. There's only one word for this: It's cool. But that is,obviously, a totally different sensation than one that you get after your first taste ofchili sauce made from Carolina Reaper, reportedly the world's hottest pepper. Then the vibeis less winter wonderland and more "My facehole's on fire!"So: Why do minty things taste cool and spicy things taste hot, and why do we describe theseflavors in terms of temperature? The short answer is that some chemicals activatethe same sensors that our bodies use to detect actual cold and heat. The way we experience,like, pretty much everything is by way of ion channels. Th...
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You know how it is: you unwrap a mint, pop it in, and suddenly your mouth is a wintrywonderland of soothing flavor. There's only one word for this: It's cool. But that is,obviously, a totally different sensation than one that you get after your first taste ofchili sauce made from Carolina Reaper, reportedly the world's hottest pepper. Then the vibeis less winter wonderland and more "My facehole's on fire!"So: Why do minty things taste cool and spicy things taste hot, and why do we describe theseflavors in terms of temperature? The short answer is that some chemicals activatethe same sensors that our bodies use to detect actual cold and heat. The way we experience,like, pretty much everything is by way of ion channels. Th...
