Human taste can be distilled down to the basic 5 taste qualities of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami or savory. Now the human tongue might also detect ammonium chloride as a basic taste. USC scholars have discovered evidence of a sixth basic taste. The tongue responds to ammonium chloride, a popular ingredient in some Scandinavian candies. The OTOPI protein receptor, previously linked to sour taste, is activated by ammonium chloride. The ability to taste ammonium chloride may have evolved to help organisms avoid harmful substances. Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda first proposed umami as a basic taste – in addition … Continue reading Sixth Sense of Taste? Science Eyes Ammonium Chloride from Scandinavian Delight