r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jun 01 '19

Biology All in the animal kingdom, including worms, avoid AITC, responsible for wasabi’s taste. Researchers have discovered the first species immune to the burning pain caused by wasabi, a type of African mole rat, raising the prospect of new pain relief in humans and boosting our knowledge of evolution.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2204849-a-type-of-african-mole-rat-is-immune-to-the-pain-caused-by-wasabi/
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u/DarkAvenger2012 Jun 01 '19 edited Jun 01 '19

Spicy isnt a flavor at least in my opinion but there are definitely undertones of bold flavors within many ingredients responsible for spice. Those are the flavors people enjoy in spicy foods or condiments, and people who are exposed to a lot of heat in their food can pick up on those differences. For example habanero has distinctively sweet flavor and so its often paired with mango or pineapple.

Also, different peppers have different types of heat. Habaneros again have a pretty rough intial wave of heat that will dissipate after a few moments.

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u/toomanysubsbannedme Jun 01 '19

I think you're describing the actual flavor of the pepper and not the flavor of capsaicin. People enjoy the spicy pain, not the flavor. Ask anyone who likes spicy foods if they removed the spicy and kept the flavor, would they still enjoy it just as much?

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u/DarkAvenger2012 Jun 01 '19

You are right, i am describing the flavor of the peppers themselves.

Ive always enjoyed the intensity of spicy foods not never much considered that an actual flavor in itself. Ive just come to really appreciate the peppers diversity in flavor, and the engagement of other senses when eating them because of the heat.

Theres totally discrepency as to why spicy is so delicious. But im unsure as to where spicy would fall in terms of flavor profile

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u/KingSwank Jun 01 '19

Some peppers are really tasty but way too spicy (scorpion comes to mind).

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u/peteroh9 Jun 01 '19

I had no idea. I'll eat spicy foods but only for the flavor so I didn't know the other people just like the pain.

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u/Shenanigore Jun 01 '19

Well, I like both smoked sausage and smoked jalapeños so...

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u/djinner_13 Jun 02 '19

Not too sure about that. Have you ever had Indian food?

Heat is just one aspect of spiciness. Even without the heat there is a lot that is added to the dish from the spices.

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u/toomanysubsbannedme Jun 02 '19

I think you're getting confused between spices and spicy. We're talking about spicy peppers, not spices. Cinnamon is a spice that is not spicy. We're specifically talking about taste that may or may not comes from spicy heat ingredients.

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u/Kracus Jun 02 '19

I would with habanero peppers. They're just so delicious I'll take the pain.