Why Mint Tastes Cold

There’s something so refreshing about the taste of mint. Whether you’re drinking water with a few mint leaves in it, sucking on a peppermint, or even brushing your teeth with a minty fresh toothpaste, the flavor of mint gives a clean, cool sensation in your mouth. However, I’m sure you know that your mouth isn’t actually getting colder. The menthol found in mint binds to the cold receptors in your tongue. The ion channels in these receptors are made extra sensitive, therefore tricking your brain into believing you’re feeling cold, according to this article on bigpictureeducation.com.