Create a taste illusion with this fun recipe!
Safety: This activity requires baking in a hot oven and cooking on a stove. Ask an adult to help with this activity. Use clean hands and clean equipment.
‘Mock apple pie’ is said to have been made by the American pioneers, who lacked fresh fruit on their travels. Although there is no fruit in the recipe, to the unsuspecting tongue there is the distinct taste of apples.
Your tongue and nose both contain a number of nerve receptors that respond to the presence of certain chemicals. Contrary to what you might have heard about your tongue being divided up into different areas, buds all over your tongue are capable of detecting different tastes. Volatile chemicals evaporate and move into your nasal cavity, triggering smells that also contribute to a food’s unique flavour. The combination of these factors is responsible for giving the things you eat their characteristic odours and tastes.
It’s possible to trick your tastebuds by using the right combination of foods. Some chemicals, such as certain salts or sugars, will help mask the effects of bitter or sour flavours. This way, it’s possible to highlight the tastes you want while hiding those you don’t want. On their own, none of the chemicals in your fake apple pie’s ingredients tasted like apples. Together, however, they overlapped to create an artificial taste that was comparable to the real deal.
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26 October, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I loved it when Mike made this and brought it into the office. It was hard to believe there were no apples in it! Definitely worth a try. I’m hoping for more pie soon…
3 May, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Is this the actual csiro websire?
5 May, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Hi Astron,
The main CSIRO website is available at:
http://www.csiro.au
Note that there’s no .com or .gov – CSIRO had a website before .com existed!