Retronasal olfaction

Smelling from inside the mouth — aroma travelling up the back of the throat while eating.

Sensory · also called retronasal, retronasal smell

Definition

The tongue reports sweet, sour, salt, bitter and umami. Everything else in a tasting note arrives at the olfactory epithelium from the back of the mouth as food warms and releases its volatiles, and the brain files the result as taste. Pinching the nose while tasting a strongly aromatic honey removes the character and leaves only sweetness, acidity and body.

Guide records that discuss this

See also

Other sensory terms

Sources

Sources

  • HoneyHQ editorial synthesisHEKNO Ltd · HoneyHQ synthesis

How sources are selected and weighted is set out in the sources and evidence policy.

HoneyHQ saves your cookie choice on this device. Optional analytics run only if you accept — set a preference now, or change it later on the cookies page.