How to prepare your palate for tasting

Why does the same drink sometimes taste completely different from one day to the next? It might seem like the wine, beer or spirit has changed but more often, it’s your senses. Subtle shifts in your palate, your environment or even your level of hydration can affect how clearly you perceive aromas, flavours and texture. Tasting is central to any WSET qualification, but it’s also a skill that improves with awareness and preparation. By creating the right conditions for your senses, you give yourself the best chance of experiencing a drink as it truly is. Here’s how to prepare your palate for more accurate, confident tasting. Key considerations for preparing your palate Ensure you have a clean, neutral palate Before tasting, your palate should be as neutral as possible. Strong or lingering flavours can mask more delicate characteristics and distort balance. Before tasting, you should avoid: strongly flavoured foods toothpaste or mouthwash coffee, cigarettes or chewing gum In short, if it

by WSETglobal · source ↗