Don't Play Justin Bieber When You're Eating, Oxford Professor Advises
Study shows that music can alter the taste of food.
Have you ever wondered if playing music will actually alter your dining experience? A psychologist/professor from Oxford University named Charles Spence believes so. In his study — of which he teamed up with BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox — he tested and analyzed with 700 takeaway fans who were subjected to six different types of music. Results showed that pop music can make curries taste spicier, and only jazz has the same effect on Thai food. Italian pasta is paired best with classical music; Ed Sheeran’s music helps improve the taste of Chinese sweet and sour dishes. He shares:
“Most of us believe that we experience food primarily through sense of taste, smell, and vision, but a growing body of research now shows that the music playing in the background can also have an influence. It is an exciting area – how soundscapes and music come together with taste to make the whole experience more stimulating, more enjoyable, and possibly even more memorable. It’s a kind of digital seasoning. Don’t play Justin Bieber when you order a takeaway.”
Sara Cox and other experts came up with the “perfect food-music matches.”
Indian
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
Ever Fallen In Love? – The Buzzcocks
Mr Brightside – The KillersItalian
The Four Seasons – Vivaldi
Nessun Dorma – Pavarotti
William Tell Overture – RossiniChinese
Sing – Ed Sheeran
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Never Forget You – MNEKThai
One For My Baby – Frank Sinatra
Sing Sing Sing – Benny Goodman
You and I – Michael Buble
