A lot of taste has to do with smell too. I had read in the past they are connected in some way with how we perceive taste and smell. Scents not only get pickup breathing in, but on the way out your nose too. When you're nose is clogged, things have a more muted taste.
Thank you @timsaid for another great topic with lots of complicated science jargon to melt our brains mixed in.
Correct!
In fact, most of the flavor is perceived through the olfactory system. Loss of the file olfactory or other neurons in the pathway due to head trauma or neurodegenerative disease may result in loss of the smelling sense, which in turn reduces the flavor of all foods to the above mentioned basic tastes.
No vanilla, no rosemary, no smoky flavor of your grilled whatever or your favorite whiskey ... you get the point.
Our bodies are definitely complicated and amazing living machines.
1 hour.... wait a minute - did you just drop a post on us and run without engaging the masses in the witty banter we enjoy so much? @timsaid
I was sleeping :) 5:30 AM here and I just woke up lol. Going to reply on all comments once I am awake.
Oh sure, playing the 'ol other side of the planet card. :-)