Toriko
This is a fairly specific and rarely used sense because it involves the mouth. Eyes, ears, and nose have some range. You’re always touching something. Yet, the sense of taste needs to be stimulated at close range. Does this mean that it should never be utilized? Nope and I’ll go right into the tips to show why:
- Food! Do I really have to explain this one?
- You ever smell something and it triggers a taste in your mouth? This goes back to the smell/memory connection. You can increase an aroma by combining it with the taste that it evokes.
- Remember that certain taste-based words can be used to describe emotions. The bitterness of defeat. The sweet taste of success. The sour taste of fear. Not sure if that last one is a thing, but readers have strong connections to taste-based words. It’s very easy to figure out because most people have come across things that are sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, tart, etc.
- Sometimes a strong emotion can create a taste in the mouth. I’ve read a few stories where fear sets off a metallic flavor. A strange usage, but it can show a very visceral reaction to something.
- Anything that falls in the mouth will have a taste. Cigars and cigarettes can have a flavor aspect. Sweat falling into the mouth while the character is hiding from an enemy. Basically, if it hits the tongue then you can use it to help set the mood.
- Licking people is always creepy, especially when the person seems to enjoy the taste.
- Even if the sense isn’t being used, characters can talk about the foods and flavors that they like or hate. For example, there is a character in ‘Love Hina’ who hates sweet foods, so she only has them by force.
Legends of Windemere 
Wonderful post! I’m always trying to get more sensory perception into my writing.
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It takes some practice and prompting to add some of them. Taste especially. That’s why I have a lot of characters eating and drinking.
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I tend to like to use taste in place of scent as scent can be overused, I think. Such as having a character breath through their mouth in a building that’s old and musty.
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Never thought of it that way. I have a few trackers in my stories, which is why I lean toward smell. This might be why taste gets overlooked so often.
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Because taste relies so heavily on the sense of smell, I think it’s fun to play with in my writing.
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Definitely. 🙂
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Great post, in my opinion everything up for grabs when writing, why should any of the senses be off limits including taste.
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Very well said. 🙂
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Now you’ve got me wondering what the taste of fear is … Great post!
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Think it’s different for everyone. I get a metallic taste in my mouth if I’m really scared.
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Hmmm interesting.
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The challenge, as always, is to use the senses increative and interesting ways rather than tired old ones.
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True. Seems to get harder and harder every year.
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#2 Reminds me of a really cool scratch-n-sniff book. Shrek! 🙂
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Shrek was a scratch-n-sniff book? Not sure I want to smell that.
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They had many Shrek books, but that was the ‘best.’ 🙂
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I have a copy of the original somewhere.
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Thought provoking topic. Well done Charles.
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Thanks. 🙂
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