Name a more iconic duo than chocolate and sea salt? The brackishness of the salt muddled with the richness of chocolate creates a ‘tour de force’ of flavour.
Luxury cruise line, Cunard, is on a mission to reveal the science behind this celebrated combination, and why food really does taste better at sea.
Working with Prof. Charles Spence, the leading gastrophysicist from the University of Oxford, Cunard has identified why taking a cruise can create an unforgettable experience for both you and your tastebuds.
According to Charles, food and drink taste better when having a good time, which is highly likely when travelling on one of Cunard’s renowned luxury ships.
This is known as the ‘Provencal rose paradox’ which Prof Spence claims everyone, especially Northern Europeans, has experienced a version of in their lifetime.
Prof Spence explains:
“It relates to the fact that food and drink seem to taste so much better when we are on holiday, whether this is with our family in the Mediterranean, or travelling solo with the sun on our backs. So nice in fact, that we are even tempted to buy a few bottles of that same holiday wine, to bring back home and share on a cold winter’s evening.
Only it never tastes the same; it is disappointing somehow. The reason is that when we are on holiday, we are likely to be relaxed and in a better mood, and food simply tastes better when we are in a better mood. Given that people don’t often cruise for work, they are likely to be happy and relaxed on their cruise hence making food and drink taste better.”
But what about the salty sea air to accompany your chocolate? Salt is a well-known flavour enhancer, helping, for example, to mask bitterness in tonic water or grapefruit, whilst at the same time enhancing the taste of many other foods.
Since salt suppresses bitterness and accentuates sweetness, it is the ideal accompaniment to chocolate, likely to work better with a more bitter dark chocolate, than milk or white chocolate.
The flavour-enhancing properties of salt might not be the only cause for food tasting better at sea, as according to Prof Spence, even seeing, smelling, and hearing the sea may also conceptually prime notions of saltiness too, thus enhancing the sensation even further.
“Looking out on the sea while simultaneously smelling and hearing the ocean, is all likely to prime saltiness, leading to a more cognitive form of taste enhancement. In an experiment I conducted with a leading chef a few years ago, we were able to show that hearing the sounds of the sea made seafood taste better.”
In this case, the combination of the salty sea air perfectly complements and enhances the flavours of quality chocolate, offering a distinct contrast between the salty, sweet, and bitter notes of the chocolate.
Research also shows that being close to and viewing the blues of water has a beneficial effect on our social, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
The mood and well-being enhancing effect of being by water combined with the iconic taste duo of sea salt and chocolate, then likely suggests that it will in fact taste better whilst on a Cunard cruise.
So, there you have it. The scientific proof that food really does taste better at sea, especially when it comes to the iconic taste duo of sea salt and chocolate.
And what better way to experience this than on a luxurious Cunard cruise, where you can indulge in gourmet cuisine, breathtaking ocean views, and a relaxing atmosphere that will enhance your mood and your taste buds.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
