The Sense Of Taste

Evening was rapidly approaching by the time they got around to riding the double Ferris Wheel which stalled with them on top, the position giving them a panoramic view of the fairgrounds. Taking in the multi-colored lights adorning the rides and booths, the music, and the festive atmosphere, Mara settled back in her seat with sigh of contentment.

“Having a good time?” J.T. asked.

For the first time, Mara realized that J.T.’s arm, which had been resting across the back of the seat, was now wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Considering the distance between them and the ground, it wasn’t the brightest thing she’d ever done, but Mara turned slightly in her seat and looked up at him.

“I’ve never enjoyed myself more,” she answered honestly. She wanted the kiss she’d longed for since last night. Her hand slid up his chest and her tongue snaked out to moisten her lips in an invitation she hoped J.T. wouldn’t resist. She held her breath as he brought his lips down to hers and sighed with pleasure at the initial contact.

Her soft, responsive lips tasted of cherry slush and cotton candy, and were more potent than a fine Scotch whiskey that went immediately to J.T.’s head and fired his blood. And just as he’d suspected, one taste of her would never be enough.

* * * *

We have unfortunately become a society of people who rush through meals and eat on the run without even tasting the food we eat. Working full time and writing I’m probably more guilty than most. Living alone, sometimes cooking and eating seem to be a waste of valuable time or I get busy and often forget to eat altogether.

Be honest and really think about my next questions. Do you eat to live, or live to eat? What was the last thing you had to eat? Do you even remember what it tasted like? Did you grab something to eat out of habit, to fill time? I suspect that if we took the time to slow down and pay attention to the taste and flavors of the food we eat, we’d probably eat less but enjoy it more.

Exercise 1: Either prepare your favorite meal or go out to your favorite restaurant. If you stay at home, go all out with wine and candlelight, maybe soft music in the background. Slow down and take the time to enjoy your food. Pay attention to the taste of what you are eating. What does it really taste like? Is there an after taste? Can you taste various flavors or spices on your tongue? If it’s spicy, is the heat immediate or the kind that creeps up on you?

Exercise 2 – You’re going to like this one – Chocolate! I’m sure we’ve all read the recent reports regarding the health benefits of dark chocolate. Some experts even believe the benefits outweigh the extra calories – especially if eaten in moderation. Just to name a few:

•Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

•Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

•Chocolate stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure

•Chocolate contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant

•Chocolate contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

Some cultures actually consider chocolate to be an aphrodisiac. Don’t know about you, but I’ll take chocolate over oysters any day. It has also been said that good chocolate has the same chemical reaction on the body a having sex. So lets think about this a minute. Eating chocolate and having sex = double the pleasure, with the added benefit of the calories burned by having sex cancelling out the calories in the chocolate. Makes perfect sense to me.

So now let’s get back to the exercise - the pleasure of tasting that chocolate.
Feel the chocolate in your mouth. Good chocolate should literally "melt in your mouth." Chocolate melts at about 97 degrees. While melting the chocolate should feel rich and luscious in your mouth. You should not need to chew good chocolate at all, just let the flavors release on their own. Examine the texture of the chocolate -- it can vary from smooth to grainy. Good chocolate has a rich, velvety texture. Poor quality chocolate feels waxy or greasy.

Taste it. Pay attention to the flavors that just pop into your head. Spend time being aware of how the flavors change over time as the chocolate continues to melt and coat more of your tongue.

Does chocolate really act as an aphrodisiac? Who knows? Who cares? What more does a person need than a mood elevating, stimulating, pleasurable, not to mention, great tasting, experience?

Exercise 3 - Anyone read the book 9 ½ Weeks or see the movie? Remember the scene where Mickey Rourke was feeding a blindfolded Kim Basinger from the refrigerator? This exercise is definitely requires a partner. You can make it as clinical as you like to explore and heighten your sense of taste, or as sexually adventurous as you like.

The tongue is highly erotic, in kisses, against your skin, or used to bring about incredible orgasms. Have you ever paid attention to the feel of your partners skin against your tongue. Is there a taste? We think of the pleasure another’s tongue can bring us without even realizing the pleasure we give from utilizing our own.

Each person is to select various foods and drinks keeping them secret from their partner. Take turns feeding each other the food you’ve chosen while blindfolded. Can you quickly identify what you are fed by taste alone? What about the shape or texture against your tongue. What does it taste like? Is it pleasant or unpleasant? Does the taste give you a sense of pleasure. Note: Be nice. Don’t deliberately feed your partner something you know they dislike. Definitely a quick way to spoil the mood.

Feel free to post a comment and let us know what foods you think would be ideal for use in sexual foreplay? Chocolate covered strawberries? A banana dipped in chocolate?

Anyone besides me have a sudden craving for chocolate?

Until next time when we explor the Sense Of Smell