6 Minute English / Meet the flavourists

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Sam Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I m Sam.

And I m Neil.

In this programme we re finding out all about food flavours. Although everyone knows what food they like the taste of, the science behind flavours is complex. Flavour involves much more than tasting with the tongue it s also influenced by how food looks, smells, and even how it s described.

In this programme we ll be meeting the flavourists scientists who combine different natural and artificial ingredients to create the flavours we love to taste in our food. And of course, we ll be learning some new vocabulary as well.

Sounds delicious, Neil, but first I have a question for you. No-one really knows why but certain flavours seem to work well together. Some scientists think classic combinations like lemon and lime, or strawberries and cream are so popular because their chemicals overlap in special ways. Sometimes this creates new, interesting and unusual flavours. So, what weirdly popular combination was invented by British chef, Heston Blumenthal? Was it

a) dark chocolate and sea salt?

b) milk chocolate and chilli? or,

c) white chocolate and caviar?

Well, I ve tried sea salt and chocolate and I think it tastes great, so I ll say a).