How is it that when you block your nose, you can't taste the food or drink that you are consuming?

Answer 1

The tongue can only sense 7 to 8 flavors. Remember the parts of the tongue designated as sour, sweet and salty etc.? The nose, or the olfactory senses, can distinguish over a hundred different substances. When a substance from food is dissolved in the passing (exhaling, inhaling) air in the mouth and nose, the olfactory nerves will detect them. Blocking your nose means the air wouldnt move around so much, hence the dissolved substances would reach the receptors in the olfactory nerve.

Answer 2

While you do have taste buds in your mouth, the smell of food plays a huge part in how it tastes. If something smells bad it will probably taste bad too.

Answer 3

Smell is what actually gives each food its distinctive taste - with taste buds alone, you can really only taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savour.

Basically while you're eating something you're smelling it at the same time.

...hope that helped. ^^

Answer 4

Because your senses are connected to each other which is why when your shut down your sense of smell, you also shut down your taste. This is also why when you smell something really good your mouth will start to water.

Answer 5

because as long as you plug it before you smell it you can't taste it

Answer 6

no of course