bitter taste

Meaning

A 'bitter taste' is one of the basic human tastes, characterized by a sharp, pungent, or acrid flavor. It is commonly found in foods like dark chocolate, black coffee, beer, and certain leafy greens like kale. While sometimes unpleasant to children, many adults learn to enjoy it.

Examples

• Dark chocolate with ninety percent cocoa has a very strong bitter taste.

  Dark chocolate with ninety percent cocoa has a very strong bitter taste.

• The medicine left a horrible bitter taste in my mouth.

  The medicine left a horrible bitter taste in my mouth.

• Some people add sugar to their coffee to mask the bitter taste.

  Some people add sugar to their coffee to mask the bitter taste.

• This IPA beer has a distinct bitter taste that comes from the hops.

  This IPA beer has a distinct bitter taste that comes from the hops.

• Overcooking the garlic will give the entire pasta sauce a bitter taste.

  Overcooking the garlic will give the entire pasta sauce a bitter taste.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I don't like the sour taste of black coffee.

  ✓ I don't like the bitter taste of black coffee.

  'Sour' refers to acidic tastes like lemon or vinegar. 'Bitter' is the correct term for the sharp, dry taste of coffee or dark chocolate.

• ✗ The burnt toast had a bad bitter flavor.

  ✓ The burnt toast had a bitter taste.

  While 'flavor' is possible, 'bitter taste' is the most common and natural collocation when referring directly to one of the primary tongue receptors.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you burn the garlic, it will leave a ___ in the sauce.

  💡 A sharp, acrid, or unpleasant flavor

  Show answer

  bitter taste

• Many people dislike kale because of its naturally ___.

  💡 A sharp, non-sweet, non-sour taste

  Show answer

  bitter taste