Remembering the Differences Between Taste and Flavor: Mnemonic Tricks to Keep Them Straight

Differentiating between 'taste' and flavor is not so easy as one might think. The two are distinct. In order to accurately remember what constitutes each, use the following mnemonic devices. I concocted this method years ago, and have found it foolproof.

Be sure you correctly understand the differences between 'taste' and 'flavor'. If you are unfamiliar with these, refer to the article, "Differentiating Between 'Taste' and 'Flavor'" for a comprehensive explanation.

TASTE:

When attempting to recall "taste" and it's correct meaning, there are some mnemonic devices or memory 'tags' one can create.

'TASTE HAS FIVE'. Begin with this key statement and commit it to memory.

REMEMBER:

Taste has five letters.

Taste is one of the five senses, and can be categorized in five ways (bitter, salty, sweet, sour, and umami (translated as "savory" or "meaty").

Five, as taste is, is quantifiable. It is objective.

Put up the five fingers of one hand.

Audibly, loudly say "taste", then spell out t-a-s-t-e touching each finger as you do so.

Curl your fingers to form a "C" and say "chemical". Continue to curl your fingers until they touch the thumb into a round "O". Say "objective".

FLAVOR:

When attempting to recall the correct meaning of 'flavor', commit the following phrase to memory:

"FLAVOR IS MORE THAN 5"; It doesn't have only five letters, it has six.

Audibly, loudly, say "flavor".

As previously, with taste, spell out f-l-a-v-o-r (or f-l-a-v-o-u-r, depending on country) while putting up the corresponding fingers on your hands.

Definitively say "flavor" at the end of the spelling.

Focus for a moment on the six (or seven) fingers that are up and say 'MORE THAN 5'.

Think of flavor as incorporating ALL of the five senses AND MORE. Visualize '5+ more'. Think of ALL the five senses, five taste markers, plus all the psychological associations a person carries with them that may be triggered with flavor.

Consider when someone describes the 'flavor' of a room, or an event (i.e.: 'the museum opening had a modern flavor', 'that room had a funky flavor'). Generally, this is a statement that is reflective of the mood or 'vibe' in the atmosphere. It is a highly personalized account of what was felt, seen, smelled etc. It is a description, an opinion, an impression- something that is subjective and is immeasurable.

In attempting to remember the correct meaning of flavor, sometimes, the best method is just to have a firm grasp on the definition of taste (or vice versa), and gain your recall by default ('taste is sensory, objective, all chemical and quantifiable, therefore, flavor MUST be post-sensory, subjective, chemical, physiological and psychological and infinite')

Repeat these exercises, confidently and clearly with distinct body movement. It may feel ridiculous to do so, but memories (and thus, mnemonic devices), work more effectively as the number of senses used to make them increase.