Why do you always order tomato juice on the plane?
And other food mysteries unraveled
I know I'm not alone, because on the plane there is a large supply of tomato juice. But why? I always think it's because I find the food medium (unless I get to sit in the front, then it's a whole different story) and tomato juice is a bit of food and drink at the same time. But the answer is different. I read a particularly nice piece in the AD where a food professor (how nice to call yourself a food professor) explains how it works in our head. And in the belly. And mouth. Here they come.
1. So why do we drink that tomato juice?
On the plane, you taste less well. This is due to the noise of the engines, according to the professor. You can hardly perceive sweetness, but salty flavors you can. Hence.
2. Is coffee tastier in daylight?
After getting up, you have more saliva in your mouth and therefore you perceive more flavor. By the way, these are the ten best coffee spots in the Netherlands.
3. Is it really true that 11:00 AM is the best time to drink wine?
Well, for the above reason, yes, to taste (that's what most wine experts do), but there may be a few more reasons to enjoy your first glass only after five.
4. Does heavy metal music promote drunkenness?
It's not that you get drunk faster, but you do drink more of it, resulting in drunkenness. As Oscar Wilde said: ‘I do find that alcohol, if consumed in sufficient quantities, can bring about all the effects of drunkenness.’ And that's true. But with ringing guitars and thumping drums, the drinking motion keeps pace. Fun fact: places that play a lot of Guns ’N Roses sell an average of 27% more alcohol than bars that don't.
5. If you want to lose weight, you should eat from a red plate
It's worth considering. We associate red with stop and danger, and therefore you eat less from a red plate. Handy, right?
6. Losing weight by listening to romantic music
Well, well. When you listen to romantic music, you're in a sweet flow and need less sugar and sweetness to experience something as sweet. In Vietnam, there is a bakery that plays romantic songs all day and uses half the sugar. To the complete satisfaction of all customers. So bring on Sky Radio...
7. That's why we prefer to eat from a bowl than from a plate
You hold a bowl and grip it. That gives a warm and familiar feeling.
8. Eating from round shapes tastes sweeter
The food professor doesn't know why, although I can imagine that our first sweet experience (breast milk) comes from a round shape and we associate the two. With a cappuccino in a round cup, you need less foam to experience it as sweet than with a square cup, and we prefer round chocolates over square ones. Funny, right?
