Original photo by Olivie Strauss/ Unsplash
Taste is about so much more than what you eat: Your brain combines smell, temperature, and even expectations to decide how something tastes. Your utensils play a role too, with their weight, shape, and material affecting the eating experience in surprising ways. A 2013 study published in the scientific journal Flavour found that yogurt served on lighter plastic spoons was perceived as denser and more expensive than the same yogurt served on heavier plastic spoons.
Other research found that spoons made of metal, such as silver, can make foods taste better than they do with plastic spoons. And in 2023, one study found that people enjoyed ramen more when using their own bowls and forks, largely made from ceramic and metal, respectively, rather than the uniform plastic utensils and bowls provided. The researchers suggest this is due to familiarity and comfort: Even before you take a bite, your brain takes cues from what you see and touch, forming expectations and helping shape flavor.
The material of the utensils can also influence the flavor of the food itself. Metal utensils add their own twist: Copper and zinc cutlery, for instance, is more chemically reactive, and the mild metallic taste can boost a food’s dominant flavor, with sweet substances tasting sweeter, bitter ones tasting more bitter, etc.
Utensils made of more chemically inert metals, such as gold and stainless steel, leave flavors largely unchanged. Even blindfolded, participants in the aforementioned study about plastic versus metal spoons could taste the differences, proving that the material itself, not just its look or perceived value, can shape how you experience the flavors of your food.
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Our sense of taste is also known as ______.
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Our sense of taste is also known as gustation.
Chewing gum can help you focus and relax.
In the early 20th century, chewing gum wasn’t just for fresh breath. Wrigley’s marketed its Juicy Fruit and Spearmint gums as a fix for heartburn, a digestive aid, and even a way to calm the nerves. And they may have been onto something: Modern studies have found the act of chewing gum can indeed improve alertness and sustained attention in addition to lowering stress levels in certain situations, such as taking a test or giving a presentation.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure why that is, however. Leading theories credit increased blood flow, muscle activation in the jaw and face, or the simple calming effect of repetitive motions. A 2025 brain imaging study found the act of chewing activates regions involved in mental focus and emotional regulation. The effects are limited — chewing gum isn’t going to improve your memory or make you smarter — but it could just give you that little extra boost when you need to stay alert or calm under pressure.
Nicole is a writer, thrift store lover, and group-chat meme spammer based in Ontario, Canada.
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