Why does the temperature of food affect how it tastes?

Question

There are foods and drinks that we typically serve hot, cold, or room temperature. They taste better in those forms… but why?

In: Other

Answer 1

temperature can have an impact on texture, which can alter the way we perceive flavors. Eg. melted cheese vs. solid. Or liquid fats/oils on something like a hot burger vs. coagulated fats/oils on a cold one.

There are also receptors in your taste buds that are more sensitive to things at higher temperatures. So, a flavor is stronger when it’s warmer. Warm beer tastes more bitter than cold beer because those receptors are not as sensitive to the bitterness when it is cold.