Naming and identification of tastes in aqueous solutions.

Several taste substances were tested in aqueous solutions; tannic and tartaric acids were found unsuitable as a standard substance for the taste identification. Monosodium glutamate, sodium hydrogen carbonate and potassium chloride were often identified as salty substances even when the subjects were able to distinguish between the tastes. They probably identified the taste as salty owing to the lack of proper terms, and unsufficient experience with tasting monosodium glutamate and sodium hydrogen carbonate as substances possessing defined tastes different from the salty taste.