British Society of Flavourists President Talks Chocolate @ Flavorcon 2024
During the presentation, Bhatnagar explored the evolutionary basis of flavor perception, highlighting the challenge of balancing healthfulness and palatability due to our genetic predisposition for energy-dense foods. She discussed the environmental-evolutionary mismatch in modern diets. She emphasized humans' multidimensional relationship with food, incorporating psychological principles, including Gestalt psychology and classical conditioning, to create appealing flavors.
The talk concluded with insights on integrating these concepts to develop flavors that resonate emotionally and culturally with consumers.
The presentation concluded with a heartfelt poem dedicated to flavorists worldwide:
Flavours Are Poetry
In the symphony of taste and scent,
Flavours are poetry with intent.
They whisper stories bold and sweet,
In every bite, our senses meet.
Just as verses paint the soul,
Flavours make the senses whole.
Each taste a note, each dish a rhyme,
Crafting memories that last through time.
In every bite, a tale unfolds,
Of memories cherished, dreams retold.
Flavours are poetry, pure and true,
A timeless art, forever new.
Moving Forward
The webinar has inspired many in the industry to consider new pathways in flavor development, integrating insights from evolutionary biology and psychology to create flavors that nourish and connect deeply with consumers.
The recording will be available on the BSF website (https://www.bsf.org.uk/)
