The New York Times published a story on Oct 19, 2009 regarding how tongues taste that "carbonation" we all appreciate when drinking soda pop beverages. The story entitled "How Tongues Taste the Carbonation in a Fizzy Beverage" reveals that the carbonation is NOT due to the bubble popping, but rather a taste receptor.
As we all know, there are receptors for five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami (sometimes termed savory).
It is the receptor for sourness that is responsible for the taste of carbonation.
Read the story here.
Read the research here.
