Experts have long argued that fat has a distinctive taste and now scientists from Purdue University may have finally isolated the "sixth" taste.
After sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savory (umami), researchers said that "oleagustus" may be added to the list. The term is a Latin word that combines "oil" and "taste," according to Forbes. It pertains to the fat sensation the tongue detects when eating food containing fatty acids.
In the study, volunteers were asked to taste different food samples that contain fatty acids combined with chemicals of basic tastes. Their noses were clipped so as not to detect any aroma.
Researchers found that the fatty acids triggered specific tastes and depending on its chemical structure, it ranged from sour to bitter. But majority of the volunteers also described the taste of fat as "irritating and consistently unpalatable," the study authors noted.
At least 64 percent of the participants were able to detect the fatty taste.
"Our experiments provide a missing element in the evidence that fat has a taste sensation, and that it is different from other tastes," said Professor Richard Mattes of the Ingestive Behavior Research Centre at Purdue University in Indiana and one of the study authors, according to the Independent.
Researchers also said that combined with other factors, like aroma and texture, fatty acids can either make food flavorful or bad-tasting. "We have a situation where one form of fat is adding to the appeal of food and may encourage intake. While with another, the taste signal is aversive, discouraging consumption," said Mattes via Fox.
Their findings should help in detecting a person's indulgence for certain types food, such as fries and junk food, which can also be helpful in cases pertaining to obesity.
"Identifying the taste of fat has a range of important health implications. At high concentrations, the signal it generates would dissuade the eating of rancid foods," he added.
The study was published in the journal Chemical Senses.
