However, the researchers came to the conclusion that it is also possible to distinguish a sixth taste associated with ammonium chloride. This ingredient is popular in sweets in the Scandinavian countries. In particular, it can be found in salted liquorice.

The taste can be recognized thanks to the protein responsible for identifying sour taste using the TRPV1 receptor.

"We saw that ammonium chloride is a really strong activator of the OTOP1 channel. It activates it as well or even better than acids," explained the neuroscientists.