Language of the day: Exploring Food-Taste and Texture

Living in a multicultural city like Vancouver gives us the unique opportunity to explore cuisine from all over the world. Why not use these experiences to expand our vocabulary too?

In this blog, we’ll share useful adjectives that will help you describe food more clearly. With these words, you’ll be able to express your preferences and talk about your dining experiences with confidence.

Flavors (What you taste)

Some examples:

  • “The soup has a slightly sweet and rich flavor.”

  • “The sauce is tangy with a bit of spice.”

  • “The dish was a little bland and needed more salt.”

  • Sweet – sugary, like desserts

  • Sour – sharp, like lemon or vinegar

  • Salty – like chips or fries

  • Bitter – strong, like coffee or dark chocolate

  • Savory – rich and meaty, not sweet

  • Spicy – hot, with a kick

  • Tangy – slightly sour and fresh

  • Rich – strong and heavy flavor

  • Bland – lacking flavor

Textures (How food feels in your mouth)

Some examples:

  • “The cake is sweet and soft.”

  • “The snack is salty and crunchy.”

  • “The dish is rich and creamy.”

  • Crunchy – makes a loud bite (chips, raw vegetables)

  • Crispy – light and delicate crunch (fried food)

  • Soft – easy to bite

  • Creamy – smooth and thick

  • Chewy – requires sustained chewing to break down

  • Juicy – full of liquid (fruit, meat)

  • Dry – lacking moisture

  • Greasy – oily or fatty

  • Flaky – breaks into layers (pastries)

Now you’re ready for your next meal! Try using some of these adjectives to describe what you eat and continue practicing your vocabulary.

Final Tip

Flavors = what you taste
sweet, salty, sour, bitter, savory, spicy, tangy

Textures = what you feel
crunchy, crispy, soft, creamy, chewy, flaky, juicy, dry

 

Maria G.