eli5 Why does cold water taste and feel different then warm or hot water?

Question

eli5 Why does cold water taste and feel different then warm or hot water?

In: 1

Answer 1

The “taste of water” is a divisive topic, but let’s assume that the combination of the water and whatever non-H2O stuff is in it does have a taste.

The tongue has a number of distinct taste receptors. Aside from other factors, different receptors are responsive in different temperature ranges. So apart from anything else, you’ll be getting a different mix of signal strengths from the different receptors.