Why is chocolate melting on the tongue such a decadent sensation? Why do we love crunching on bacon? Why is fizz-less soda such a disappointment to drink, and why is flat beer so unappealing to the palate? Our sense of taste produces physical and emotional reactions that cannot be explained by chemical components alone. Eating triggers our imagination, draws on our powers of recall, and activates our critical judgment, creating a unique impression in our mouths and our minds. How exactly does this alchemy work, and what are the larger cultural and environmental implications?

Collaborating in the laboratory and the kitchen, Ole G. Mouritsen and Klavs Styrbæk investigate the multiple ways in which food texture influences taste. Combining scientific analysis with creative intuition and a sophisticated knowledge of food preparation, they write a one-of-a-kind book for food lovers and food science scholars. By mapping the mechanics of mouthfeel, Mouritsen and Styrbæk advance a greater awareness of its link to our culinary preferences. Gaining insight into the textural properties of raw vegetables, puffed rice, bouillon, or ice cream can help us make healthier and more sustainable food choices. Through mouthfeel, we can recreate the physical feelings of foods we love with other ingredients or learn to latch onto smarter food options. Mastering texture also leads to more adventurous gastronomic experiments in the kitchen, allowing us to reach even greater heights of taste sensation.

"Serious foodies unintimidated by scientific vocabulary will relish the authors' intriguing discoveries." - Booklist

"Nimbly explore[s] the interplay of food textures and the mouth's somatosensory system." - Nature

"The book is lively, interesting, and clear in explaining the various concepts behind mouthfeel. Highly recommended." - Choice

"A beautifully executed text packed full of relatively accessible food science, stunning full-color photographs and thought-provoking recipes." - Emily Contois Blog

"For adventurous chefs and readers with a serious interest in gastronomy, Mouthfeel should prove a handy reference tool." - Japan Times

"A remarkable book" - Wall Street Journal

"Will be appreciated by the very curious or those with an affinity for science." - Metropolis Japan

"A tremendous resource for classrooms and ambitious home cooks alike." - Gastronomica