20 Words To Describe Specific Tastes And Flavours – A

Resource For Writers

writerswrite.co.za/20-words-used-to-describe-specific-tastes-and-flavours

Writers know that using the senses is a great way to make stories come alive. In this post,
we share 20 words to describe tastes and flavours.

Writers need to learn how to describe by showing and not telling and one of the ways we
can show is through the five senses.

Readers want to experience what your characters see, smell, hear, taste, and touch.

taste
Pronunciation: /teɪst/
the sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a
substance
Definition (Oxford Dictionaries)

It is important to note that you can only taste four flavours with your tongue. The flavours
are sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. (Some people believe there are five if you accept a fifth
flavour called ‘Umami’.)

Any other flavours you taste are a combination of these four flavours, or are smelled with
your nose. This is why you don’t enjoy food when you have a blocked nose.

As writers, we still need to know more than four words when we’re describing flavours.
Writers Write is your one-stop resource for writers so I found these 20 options, with
meanings, that you could use in your writing.

20 Words Used To Describe Specific Tastes And Flavours

1. acidic – very sour
2. astringent – an astringent taste is one that is strong and bitter
3. bitter – a strong sharp taste that is not sweet
4. bitter-sweet – tasting bitter and sweet at the same time
5. brackish – has a slight taste of salt and is therefore not pure
6. hot – contains a lot of spices that create a burning feeling in your mouth
7. mature – has been left to develop a pleasant strong flavour
8. mild – does not have a strong taste
9. ripe – has a strong flavour
10. robust – has a lot of flavour
11. savoury – tasting of salt or spices and not sweet
12. seasoned – containing seasonings to improve flavour

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13. sharp – has a strong and bitter flavour
14. sour – with a taste like a lemon
15. spicy – has a strong hot flavour
16. sweet-and-sour – contains both sweet and sour flavours
17. syrupy – thick, sweet, and sticky
18. tart – a slightly sour taste
19. unsalted – not flavoured with salt
20. watery – pale, or not strong

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