The human language has about 10,000 taste buds that allow us to recognize salty, sweet, bitter, acidic and even umami. However, Are you able to identify all the ingredients in a dish and their measurement just by tasting it? No, right? This ability, known as absolute taste, is an exceptional sensory ability that only a few possess. Find out what it consists of.

What is the absolute threshold? Example

When talking about absolute taste, we must begin by explaining what the absolute sensory threshold is. This term refers to the minimum level of stimulus necessary for a person to detect a sensation. That is, it means having a hypersensitivity that allows perceive stimuli that go unnoticed by others.

For example, enjoying an absolute threshold means hearing the quietest sound, smelling the most ethereal nuance, seeing the faintest light, perceiving the slightest touch, or detecting the most subtle taste. In fact, The authors Donald H. McBurney and Virginina B. Collings have already specified these sensory “superpowers” in 1984 in his work Introduction to sensation/perception. Thus, to have an absolute sense of smell you must be able to identify a drop of perfume in a 3-bedroom apartment. In the case of absolute hearing, you have to be able to perceive the ticking of a clock 6 meters away. If you manage to see one lit candle at 50 meters At night, you can boast of having absolute vision. And in case you notice how the a bee's wing falls on your cheek from a height of 1 centimeter, you will have absolute tact.

What is absolute taste?

In the case of the palate, the limits are also determined. Specifically, To be able to speak of absolute taste, you must be able to detect 1 gram of table salt dissolved in 500 liters of water. As you can see, something difficult to achieve. All you have to do is see the culinary themed film 'The father's life', in which a young cook tries to get the family recipe for hedgehog cream from his father with memory loss, being unable to reproduce it himself.

However, like the rest of the senses, taste can be improved. What's more, in the world of gastronomy, having a low taste threshold or even absolute taste is especially valuable. Hence, great chefs and tasters constantly train to optimize their sensory abilities and are able to discern and appreciate the complex flavors and ingredients of dishes. Not to mention that this ability makes any culinary experience richer, more complex and ultimately satisfying.

How to train the sense of taste?

You too can get a photo palate! As? Here are some key steps to get closer to absolute taste:

• Use your sense of smell. Smell is closely linked to taste. Therefore, try sniff different foods and beverages before consuming them to identify their distinctive aromas.

• Savor slowly. When tasting drinks and food, take your time. Let the flavors unfold in your mouth, paying attention to the different nuances and notes.

• When eating, close your eyes and focus on the flavors. Imagine the ingredients and try to identify them one by one. This can help you focus your senses and discover subtle details.
• Train yourself. Research the foods or drinks you consume. Learn about its origin, preparation process and features can enrich your sensory experience and appreciation.

• Test, test and test. Practice makes perfect, so the best way to approach the level of absolute taste is to consciously try dishes. It is also advisable to carry out comparative tastings. For example, try several types of extra virgin olive oil and note their differences in flavor, texture and aroma. This will expand your knowledge and sensitivity to different flavor profiles.

In this way, for example, in one extra virgin olive oil tasting, you will be able to identify the aromas and nuances that EVOO contains. Would you be able to detect the green reminiscences of the leaf and stem of the olive tree in our HG Manzanilla? The fruity touches of our HG Arbequina? Or the herbaceous aromas of HG V Centenario? Test yourself with our gourmet case, composed of 4 250 ml bottles and a selection of the best Premium EVOO from Hacienda Guzmán.