Unlocking the Secrets of Taste: Exploring the Science and Art of Flavor with Mandy Naglich

Taste is one of our most important senses, yet the majority of people still don’t have the language to articulate exactly why they love or hate something. In the past, tasting education had been limited to restaurant and hospitality professionals, most often deferring to rigid French wine classifications that rely on blind tasting to consider the more nuanced principles of how the natural environment or terroir (soil, topography and climate) impacts the expression of flavor within the final product, including how it looks, smells, tastes and feels.  However, thanks to the emergence of pedestrian-friendly craft beer education over the past decade, widespread interest in food culture, and even the impact of sensory loss from COVID, there’s been an uptick in curiosity about our personal relationships with taste. And we now have the ultimate handbook to understanding the science and art behind flavor.  Joining the podcast today is New York-based Advanced Cicerone, Certified Taster, and journalist Mandy Naglich, whose latest book “How To Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life,” was released just last month. Teaching both consumers and professionals about flavor and service across the beverage alcohol category, her wildly popular tasting classes frequently sell out around the city and virtually. Her work has been featured in Vice, Taste of Home, VinePair, and Wine Enthusiast, and has generated a considerable following on her blog, Drinks With Mandy. Today, she shares the story behind her unconventional job and how taste can create daily opportunities for joy in the every day. Listen, like and share the episode. Follow Mandy on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. And make sure to follow The Weed Witch for all of the latest and greatest.