The idea is to determine your sensitivity to taste.
Things Required:
Toothpicks
Blindfold
Spring-type clothespin
Apple
Onion
Directions:
Take an adult to peel and cut the apple and onion into small bite-size pieces of equal size. Ask a helper to assist you with the experiment. Without seeing or smelling, the person will decide on the identity of the food by taste only. Blindfold the helper and place the clothespin on his or her nose. An old clothespin with a weak spring is best so that it may not pinch too tightly.
Use a toothpick to place a piece of apple in the helper’s mouth and give instructions to chew it and identify what the food is. It is important that the helper has not seen the food samples before the experiment starts. After making an identification, ask your helper to remove the nose clip and compare the taste when odour is included. Replace the clip and blindfold; then use a toothpick to place the onion piece in your helper’s mouth. Ask for an identification.
Remove the clip and again ask for an identification.
This Is What Happens:
Without smelling, the apple and the onion have a similar taste. The texture of the food will give clues, but the taste is the same.
Science Behind It:
The tongue has nerve endings that allow one to taste things that are sweet, sour, salty or bitter. Most of the taste sensations experienced are due to smell. Make a note of how tasteless food seems the next time you have a cold and cannot breathe properly.
