Why does grape candy taste so fake? What on earth is blue raspberry, anyway? And what is the difference between natural and artificial, at least when it comes to flavor?
Join us as we taste the rainbow on this episode of Gastropod, from artificial flavoring’s public debut at the 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition, to the vanilla-burping yeasts of the future. We ... Show More
Oct 7
Everything You Know About Metabolism Is Wrong
If you’ve heard of metabolism, you’ve probably heard endless tips and tricks to boost it, from working out to drinking green tea. The idea is that a slow metabolism leads to weight gain, and speeding it up makes it easier to shed pounds. But what if we told you that metabolic rat ... Show More
48 m
Sep 23
Durian Delight and Feijoa Fun: Adventures in Banned, Forgotten, and Unusual Fruit
This week on Gastropod, a feast of fruits! Specifically, feijoa and durian—and, if you haven’t heard of either, you’re not alone. Unlike the ubiquitous strawberry or banana, durian and feijoa are only popular in a handful of countries and almost unknown in the US, and we wanted t ... Show More
50m 46s
Oct 2021
What Is Bubblegum Flavor Anyway?
Many foods have natural or artificial flavorings added -- but what does 'bubblegum' represent? Learn about scent, taste, and the flavor industry in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/does-bubblegum-flavor-represent-something-th ... Show More
5m 16s
Jun 2023
Frontiers of Food Science: Do Sound and Color Affect Flavor?
Experimental psychologist Charles Spence introduces us to gastrophysics, the science of how the brain melds color, smell and sound to create powerful multisensory taste experiences. Plus, Nicola Twilley investigates the rise of alternative sugars; Alex Aïnouz goes on a hunt for t ... Show More
51m 4s