On Taste: In Humans and Other Animals (Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspectives on Culinary History) - Hardcover

Risso, Davide; Morini, Gabriella

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0231221290 ISBN 13: 9780231221290

Verlag: Columbia University Press, 2026

Inhaltsangabe

Are there only five tastes, sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami? Why are some so appealing to us while others are what we call acquired tastes? Do other animals perceive tastes in the same way humans do? How did the sense of taste evolve? Should the hotness of chili peppers, the coolness of mint, and the pungency of garlic be considered tastes? What can taste teach us about our health and our environment?

In this book, two leading researchers take readers on a lively journey through the science of taste. Davide Risso and Gabriella Morini trace its evolution across millions of years, ranging from microbes to octopuses through birds and finally humans. They explain how taste receptors allow us to decode the chemical composition of food and distinguish between edible and toxic items. Evolution has given varied species different capabilities, so pandas lack the ability to taste umami and cats do not perceive sweetness. On Taste also reveals how mosquitoes choose their prey―and why they like some people more than others. Rigorous and accessible, this book shows how taste unlocks the connections between science and culture, letting us understand our foods and our world more richly.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Davide Risso is a molecular biologist who specializes in taste and nutrition science. He received a PhD from the University of Bologna, and he has held research roles for major international food companies.

Gabriella Morini is assistant professor of taste and food sciences at the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, Italy, and scientific director of the Pollenzo Food Lab. She is also a visiting scientist in the Department of Food Science at the University of Copenhagen.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Columbia University Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2026
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0231221290
• ISBN 13: 9780231221290
• Einband: Gebundene Ausgabe
• Anzahl der Seiten: 152
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Columbia University Press; https://cup.columbia.edu/; ; OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL 412 LOW MEMORIAL LIBRARY 535 W. 116THSTR; NEW YORK; NY; 10027; USA
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar