Experimentbeginnerdraft
A pinch of salt makes grapefruit sweeter
Also searched as: salt against bitterness, salted grapefruit, salt in coffee
In short: Two segments of grapefruit, one with a tiny pinch of salt: the salted one tastes less bitter and sweeter.
Picture it
Like a curtain drawn in front of a glaring lamp: suddenly you can see the other colours in the room.
You need · 5 minutes
- a grapefruit
- salt
- a glass of water to rinse
How it’s done
Sequence · Step 1 of 4
Take out two segments.
All steps as a list
- Take out two segments.
- Sprinkle a very little salt on one, just visible.
- Taste the unsalted one first, drink some water, then the salted one.
- Compare: how bitter, how sweet, how salty?
What you see
The salted segment hardly tastes salty, but it is less bitter and the sweetness comes forward.
Why it happens
Salt dampens the perception of bitter compounds. Because the bitterness recedes, you taste the sweetness more strongly, although no sugar has been added.
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