Six tastes of Food | Arusuvai Unnavu

Yesterday I was reading about six tastes of food in a library book. Learnt some interesting facts and thought of sharing it with you. Six tastes of food are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. It is called as arusuvai in Tamil. A full course South Indian meal accomodates all the six tastes. On the day of Telugu New Year, we prepare Ugadi Pachadi in home. It is a mixture of six tastes and consists of Jaggery, Neem flower, Pepper or chilli, Salt, Tamarind Juice and Raw Mango. It is in-taken first on the New year to represent the acceptance of different emotions(Happiness, Sorrow, Anger, Fear, Disgust and Surprise) in a equal manner.

Taste Name	Action	Sources
English: Sweet Tamil: Inippu	Soothing, nourishing, energising and satisfying Emotion : Happiness	Milk, Fruits, Cereals, Jaggery
English: Sour Tamil: Pulippu	Increases Appetite, helps digestion  and produces Saliva Emotion : Disgust	Yogurt, Fermented food,  citrus fruits, tamarind
English: Salty           Tamil: Oovaruppu	Increases water intake, gives skin  a glow and cures stiffness Emotion : Fear	Salts
English: Pungent Tamil: Kaarppu	Increases blood circulation, kills worm  in digestive tracts, purifies mouth Emotion : Anger	Pepper, chilly, ginger and onions
English: Bitter Tamil: Kasappu	Blood purifier, firms the skin and  antidote to poison Emotion : Sorrow	Dark green leaves, coffee, tea,  bitter gourd, olives, neem flower
English: Astringent Tamil: Thuvarppu	Aids digestion, blood purifier Emotion : Surprise	Pomegranates, turmeric,  broccoli, cauliflower, betel leaf