Flavors and Taste – Part 2
To taste and to savour, this perception that we occasionally lose with certain infections. Taste is associated with the 2nd chakra; the chakra of desire, sense of responsibility, rationality and water metabolism, going far beyond the physical aspect of taste.
When we talk about tasting, we first think of the taste buds. But what about our other faculties? Don’t we say we have a taste for life? A taste for travelling? A taste for a particular activity, such as seeing a movie, going to the beach? Tasting is a perception that goes beyond the physical body to include our mental, emotional and even spiritual faculties! Below are common expressions using “to taste” that apply to other spheres of human existense.
Tasting can be our ability to discern qualities or defects – such as relying on the taste from a friend to choose clothes.
Tasting is our way of seeing, feeling, judging –our taste evolves with age or can be influenced by peers, media, web…
To taste is also a particular inclination as in the expression to be of someone’s taste just like to estimate, to appreciate.
Tasting is also the inclination of one person towards another – finding a person to your liking, to your taste.
| Tastes | Physical effects | Psychological actions |
| sweet | tonic, soothes, balances and provides satisfaction | increases psychologic stability and satisfaction |
| acid | tonic, energizing and anabolic, i.e. accelerates tissue growth | increases discrimination |
| salty | tonic, sedative, tightens tissues and dissolves toxins | increases courage and bravery and reduces fear |
| pungent | reducing, warming, dries and stimulates taste perceptions | increases passion |
| bitter | detoxifies, firms skin and muscles, improves mental functioning | encourages spiritual growth, reduces anger and judgment |
| astringent | sedative, accelerates healing and helps blood clotting | tempers spiritual growth
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Tasting is also the first step of digestion. Tasting like digestion is not only a matter of food but also of emotions, of mental activities which can just as much cause indigestion, anxiety, migraines… Therefore it becomes interesting to choose the flavors which balance your constitution, your expression of qualities and tendencies, and to become aware of the importance of tasting other spheres of life.
Take care of your health with the holistic approach of Ayurveda!
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REF:
Halpern, M., 2001-2010. Principles of Ayurvedic Medecine, textbook, 10th ed. CCA Ed. 401p.
Larousse encyclopédique, 3 Volumes. 1965.
Sharma, H. & C. Clark, 2012. Ayurvedic Healing. Singing Dragon Ed. London. 320 p.
Vyas, K. 2014. Le Grand Guide de l’Ayurveda. Marabout Ed. 303 p.