Why does cold water taste better?

PrinceofLowLight · Post by **PrinceofLowLight** » 2004-04-11 02:15pm

Why does cold water taste better, even when you're cold and don't need cooling down?

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-04-11 02:22pm

Erm, isn't water at its best when it doesn't taste like anything? If so, my guess is that really cold water numbs your tongue, so you can't taste it.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-11 02:24pm

You're assuming that your personal preference for cold water is universal. I don't think cold water tastes any better than hot water.

PrinceofLowLight · Post by **PrinceofLowLight** » 2004-04-11 02:29pm

Of course it is! My whims are physical constants. Societal universals, if you will.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-04-11 02:43pm

It doesn't "taste" any different. Cold water is different than hot water, because of the temperature.

Super-Gagme · Post by **Super-Gagme** » 2004-04-11 02:47pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:It doesn't "taste" any different. Cold water is different than hot water, because of the temperature.

So it "tastes" colder?

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2004-04-11 03:14pm

would icecream be tasty when it was hot?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-11 03:15pm

wautd wrote:would icecream be tasty when it was hot?

It would become a sweet, hot drink, thus losing its basic character. What does that have to do with water?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-04-11 03:18pm

The reason that cold water seems to have a better taste than room-temp water is because the coldness numbs your taste buds. So tap water that normally tastes horrible at room temp will seem to have a somewhat better taste cold -- only because you just can't really taste it.

Raxmei · Post by **Raxmei** » 2004-04-11 03:34pm

My mother doesn't like cold water.
I guess there's no real reason why I prefer cold water besides water being supposed to be cold.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-11 03:58pm

Crayz9000 wrote:The reason that cold water seems to have a better taste than room-temp water is because the coldness numbs your taste buds. So tap water that normally tastes horrible at room temp will seem to have a somewhat better taste cold -- only because you just can't really taste it.

So the problem is shitty water. Solution: get better water. I have a water cooler in my house for that reason.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-04-11 04:06pm

Darth Wong wrote:It would become a sweet, hot drink, thus losing its basic character. What does that have to do with water?

Nothing to do with water, but it IS a tasty beverage. And what more do you need?

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-04-11 04:30pm

I was gonna say something like Crayz, mainly that human sensory organs are structured in such a way that make us appreciate the taste of cold water more than that of warm water...

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-04-11 06:07pm

I like my water to be served with lots of ice. I never thought of it "tasting" better since my tap water is perfectly fine with me. However, I have noticed that it "seems" to quench my thirst better and I consume it more readily when its ice cold.

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2004-04-11 06:22pm

I agree, I cant see it being a matter of actual taste, just that colder works better to get rid of thirst. Warm water to me just feels flat and empty while chilled water feels more refreshing and likeable for whatever reason.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2004-04-11 06:38pm

Water can definitely taste different. It depends on the general composition of the salts dissolved in it.
I know some brands of water I do not like to drink, because they don't taste...

And funny trivia of the week: Here in Germany we prefer sparkling water, still water has a very low market share.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2004-04-11 06:42pm

Dahak wrote:Water can definitely taste different. It depends on the general composition of the salts dissolved in it.
I know some brands of water I do not like to drink, because they don't taste...
And funny trivia of the week: Here in Germany we prefer sparkling water, still water has a very low market share.

Amen to that. Although one might argue that the latter is because if you want drinkable still water, all you have to do is turn on the tap.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-11 08:38pm

Icehawk wrote:I agree, I cant see it being a matter of actual taste, just that colder works better to get rid of thirst. Warm water to me just feels flat and empty while chilled water feels more refreshing and likeable for whatever reason.

That's cause you're in Canada. Try the water in the Baltimore or Phoenix areas. Your mouth will fall off.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-04-11 08:45pm

kojikun wrote:Nothing to do with water, but it IS a tasty beverage. And what more do you need?

A tasty burger...

...motherfucker.

J · Post by J » 2004-04-11 08:57pm

PrinceofLowLight wrote:Why does cold water taste better, even when you're cold and don't need cooling down?

Because you touch yourself at night...

No, but really, i think it's that we tend to associate cold water with pure clean refreshing goodness - pure mountain springs, glaciers, that kinda stuff, so a cold glass of water just seems better.

Personally I prefer room temperature water most of the time, warm water in winter and cold ice water in summer...but that's just me.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2004-04-11 09:08pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:
kojikun wrote:Nothing to do with water, but it IS a tasty beverage. And what more do you need?
A tasty burger...

Mmmhmmmm!

Personally, i loathe warm water, reminds me more of bodily fluids, or something. Cold water feels better going down the throat, you get more experience out of it or something.

CrimsonRaine · Post by **CrimsonRaine** » 2004-04-11 11:48pm

I always thought that since your body is at a very warm temperature that cold water flowing down it would feel nice. When you drink real hot water, like tea, it feels especially good in your belly. Truly, there's no difference in taste, but in sensation.

'Raine

CrimsonRaine · Post by **CrimsonRaine** » 2004-04-11 11:50pm

I always thought that since your body is at a very warm temperature that cold water flowing down it would feel nice. When you drink real hot water, like tea, it feels especially good in your belly. Truly, there's no difference in taste, but in sensation.

'Raine

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2004-04-12 12:10am

Darth Wong wrote:
wautd wrote:would icecream be tasty when it was hot?
It would become a sweet, hot drink, thus losing its basic character. What does that have to do with water?

i was referring to the temperature

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-04-12 12:24am

If you want horrible tasting water, come to Iowa City/Coralville. Bottled water sales there are at a premium.

Would you like to know how horrible the water there is? It's SO horrible, they had to lower the purification standards for it.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Why does cold water taste better?

Why does cold water taste better?

Re: Why does cold water taste better?