Intensity and the Evolution of Taste
There is a good reason for all this intensity: It's a kid thing. The world that children inhabit bubbles with the most amazing things, and kids snarf up all that excitement with gusto. They want to experience life to its fullest, and so they push everything to its limit.
Consider candy, for example. Candy is fun food. What makes candy so special among foods? I think that it's because candy is intensely pleasurable. Have you ever noticed just how intense an experience candy provides? It doesn't taste merely good; candy makes your tongue jump up and shout with joy. Now, there are other intense gustatory experiences—chili peppers, for example. But they are not intensely pleasurable. A chili pepper makes your ...
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