Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and texture

The case for texture as the most important component of flavor.

Sweet, sour, salty and bitter are all either too little or too much in any given dish.

Umami is either there or it is not. A more subtle flavor charactoeristic than salty, I cannot imagine even the most pompous of food critics suggesting that a dish is too umami.

Of all the flavor components, by far the most complex, and also by far the most influential, is texture. Not merely a host for tastebuds, the tongue is a sensitive detector of texture.

Texture, of all the flavor components, is also the most difficult to adjust. Or, as the case may be; the easiest. We'll get back to adjusting texture.

Not salty enough; add salt. Too salty; add liquid, add pepper.

Too sweet; add sour. Too sour; add sweet.

The evidence: Exhibit A.

As the website proclaims: All natural, no sugar added, 110-120 calories, and 2 servings of fruit.

No high fructose, no nuts, no egg, no fish, no soy, no wheat, no fat...no nothing but fruit. Two servings of fruit in a convenient recyclable container. No peels. No sticky fingers. You do not need a knife or a fork.

No nitrates. No gluten. The cost is about $2 for 200mL. (6.75oz) It would be less expensive to buy and eat regular fruit which generally has more fiber and a few less calories than the fruit2day concoction. Let's keep in mind that bottled water sells for $1 for a similarly sized portion.

So far the argument for fruit2day is pretty strong isn't it? I saw the fruit2day in the refrigerated section nestled amongst the pomegranate juice and the acai berry cocktails. This is where the health concious, or perhaps the truly gullible, find their juices and elixers.

I brought some Pineapple Banana Fruit2day home to try it out. Like the rest of you, I don't get enough servings of fruit. This could be the solution. We have bought pineapples before. It is a time consuming task to make the pineapple ready to eat and they don't stay fresh for very long. Bananas are not difficult to serve but they go from unripe to ripe to mushy at the speed of light.

Two servings of fruit, no fruit flies. What is not to like?

Cold fruit juice drink in my livingroom. Shaken and cold. Pop the top and pour some back...

Reflex reaction: Oh No! Stop! Wait! Did I just throw up in my mouth? Is this bad milk? Chunks...I have chunks along with the liquid in my mouth. Errrp.

OK. OK. Wait...the taste is fine. No bile. No sour milk. Some of those chunks are fresh pineapple. OK. OK. I can down this. Phew. What a relief.

The texture, regardless of the ingredients and other flavor components induced a reflex reaction, "Spit this out!" Concern for the rug, combined with an underlying understanding that this was an experimental food saved the day...and the rug. Other than the texture, there was nothing wrong with the fruit2day.

Tomorrow I will buy some apples and some bananas. Maybe some mangos and a few cherries.

And a pineapple.

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Adjusting texture isn't as easy as adding a little salt or pepper, but in the case of a fruit drink with disturbing chunks...think smoothie. The blender is your friend.

M,E,W,P,S,N,Se,F,Sh

Key: M, E, W, P, S, N, Se, F, Sh

Milk-free, Egg-free, Wheat-free, Peanut-free, Soy-free, Nut-free, Sesame-free, Fish-free, Shellfish-free

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