Exploring Herbs Through Taste
Imagine chewing on a rose hip and feeling more than just flavor dancing on your tongue. That sharp tang doesn’t just wake up your taste buds, it signals deep within your body. In the world of herbalism, the flavors of herbs: bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and pungent, are not just tastes, but they are signals of the herb’s therapeutic touches on our organ systems. Each flavor has a unique relationship with our body. By tasting these flavors, you can start to unlock a whole new way of relating to plants.
In Clinical Herbalism, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, the flavors of herbs carry a deeper understanding of the relation between plants and the body. Each flavor is influences specific body systems, tissue states, specific ailments, and a person's constitution. Now, let's talk about some flavors….
Acrid
A taste that can feel bitter, pungent, and have a slight burning flavor.
This taste has an affinity to the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Many acrid tasting herbs are nervines and antispasmodics.
Herbs - Lobelia, Kava, Hops, Blue vervain
Astringent
A flavor palette that can feel drying in the mouth and sometimes tingly.
This taste has an affinity to the cardiovascular system, digestive system, and urinary system.
Herbs - Oak, Red root, Raspberry leaf, Blackberry leaf
Sour
A puckering mouthful of flavor that can feel astringent and saliva producing.
This taste has an affinity to the digestive system and respiratory system.
Herbs - Hawthorn, Rosehips, Citrus, Goji berries
Bitter
Usually not a pleasant taste, this flavor is sharp, harsh, and can linger on the back of the tongue.
This taste has an affinity to the digestive system and nervous system, specifically the brain/gut connection.
Herbs - Blue vervain, Mugwort, Chamomile, Burdock root, Dandelion root
Sweet
A flavor that most enjoy.
This taste has an affinity to the digestive system, skin, nervous system, and lungs.
Herbs - Licorice, Cinnamon, Marshmallow root, Milky Oats
Pungent
A flavor palette that can be warming, spicy, and a bit drying to the mouth.
This taste has an affinity to digestion and circulation.
Herbs - Cayenne, Ginger, Rosemary, Prickly Ash
Salty
A mineral or earthy taste on the tongue.
This taste has an affinity to the kidneys and urinary system.
Herbs - Nettle, bladderwrack, Cleavers, Goldenrod