284 – The six tastes which influence us

The six tastes which influence us are sweet, salt, pungent, sour, astringent and bitter. It is very important to have them all in our daily cuisine. These tastes and flavor reach different parts of our tongue and they influence our nature. Excess of any taste is harmful for us. When we eat we must eat slowly and calmly. There should be no hurry and our attention should be wholly on our plate. There is a simple rule and that is to have all six tastes and as many colors on our plate as possible. Continue reading

282 – Light, cool, clear, drying and harsh

Astringent taste is derived from the air and earth element. It is a flavor of dryness that is generally produced by tannins in the bark, leaves and outer rind of fruits and trees. It causes the mucous membrane in the mouth to contract and results in a dry and puckering feeling in the mouth. It is cooling, drying and heavy. Continue reading