Why Do We Have the Sudden Urge to Drink Tomato Juice on Airplanes?

Scientifically, tomato juice tastes better on an airplane

Lufthansa dug further into their poll and concluded through scientific evidence that at low cabin pressures and increased humidity experienced in the air, there is an decrease in smell and taste thresholds. We actually smell and taste as if we have a cold. Salt will taste 30% less intense and sugar 20% less. The combination brings out the fruitiness of tomato juice. By contrast, coffee is too bitter in the air.

“As soon as you have it at 30,000 feet, tomato juice shows, let’s say, its better side. It shows more acidity, it has some mineralic taste with it, and it’s very refreshing,” says Derenthal.

A more recent study by the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance finds similar evidence of changes in our taste on an airplane. These findings were based more on the decibel levels than cabin pressure, etc. The study concluded that while the noise level experienced onboard an airplane does nothing to affect our perception of salty, bitter, and sour flavors, it does cause a pronounced suppression of sweetness. Loud noise also increases the intensity of umami of which tomato juice contains high levels.

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