Smell

Without a sense of smell, all is lost. It is the nose which is the most highly tuned instrument for the delectation of any food or wine. As with tasting, too much sugar interferes with the process, just as too much salt can overwhelm delicate flavours. Smoking dulls the palate, as do very strong flavours such as peppermint and chilli, and this affects our sense of smell as well as our ability to taste.