Journeys: Mouth, teeth and tongue. Stop 3

Tastes

We are on the tongue. These bumps are called papillae. Many of them hold taste cells. Put a lemon on the tongue!

Sour! You can only taste food once it dissolves in saliva. Now a sweet.

Sweet! Sweet things give quick energy. Now a cracker.

Salty! The body needs a little salt. Now a grapefruit.

Bitter! A bitter taste often warns that food might be bad for you. Only the tomato is left.

This is umami, the taste of broth and tomatoes. It says there is protein in the food.

Bumps all over the tongue feel all five tastes. And taste cells renew about every two weeks.