Q. Taste interactions affecting taste quality?

Taste interactions- Foods contain a mixture of substances which elicit all four sensations. Modification of one sensation takes place in the presence of other. For example, addition of sugar to tea extract or lemon to tea extract i.e. bitterness is suppressed by sweet or sour.

Out of the two sensations, the stronger one may repress the effect of other. For example, salt in sub-threshold concentration reduces the tartness of acid; salt is added to sweet fruits to modify the sweet taste or to make it more acceptable. Sugar or lemon added to the tea, which otherwise is very bitter, modifies the bitter taste.