Tomato Juice Hits the Spot
March 11, 2010
Ever wondered why you ordered that Bloody Mary from in-flight service on
your overseas flight last summer when, ordinarily, you never think to use
tomato juice when fixing yourself a drink at home? Well, it appears that there
is more to it than simple holiday euphoria and leaving behind the daily grind
for two weeks. German researchers from Fraunhofer Institute for Building
Physics have found that our taste for tomato juice is stimulated when flying
at altitude and especially on long-haul flights.
In a test recreating cabin conditions at cruising altitude, German volunteers
were asked to make drinks and meals selections which resulted in an
overwhelming and constant thirst for tomato juice. While not generally
people’s first choice of a drink, this was all the more surprising since,
in Germany, apple and orange juice are firm favourites.
It seems altitude and reduced cabin pressure conditions enhance human taste
receptors for salt, sugar and tomato flavours, making tomato juice more
appealing than other refreshments served. The same test conducted at
ground level showed a much reduced desire for the product. As concerns food,
the spicier the better was the general conclusion.
Lufthansa, which commissioned the research, hopes to integrate the findings
into their in-flight catering menus and supply chains to ensure that you are
not disappointed when you feel the need for a thirst quenching tomato juice
on your next long-haul flight to the sun.
Do you drink tomato juice when flying?
Posted: March 11 2010 by admin | Comments [8]
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