Castello Extra Creamy Brie “Hack your Senses” Taste Experiments

In association with Castello

Castello Extra Creamy Brie “Hack your Senses” Taste Experiments

I was recently asked if I’d like to take part in some scientific home experiments to “hack your senses” involving the new Castello Extra Creamy Brie . This took me back to my Home Economics days so I immediately jumped at the chance!

A bit of background to Castello

For those of you not acquainted with Castello, the company has a rich heritage which dates back to 1893 when Master Cheese-maker Rasmus Tholstrup would travel the world trying different cheeses and re-invent them. He respected traditional methods but applied his own creativity to create even more indulgent and exciting taste experiences. Today Castello are still inspired by his passion and by expertly blending skill and imagination they pursue and extraordinary taste experience for each and every product. The range in the UK consists of Traditional Danish Blue, Tickler Cheddar, Extra Creamy Danish Blue, Creamy Blue and the new indulgent Castello Extra Creamy Brie which is a creatively crafted take on the usual traditional white mould cheese and delivers a taste experience with each and every bite.

The Science

So to celebrate the launch of Castello Extra Creamy Brie the brand teamed up with Creative Neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis to dive into the world of Virtual Reality. Together they have explored how we can ‘hack’ into the brain using a few simple tricks to deliver the sensational taste they strive for in every bite. Following months of experimental work the Creative Neurologist is revealing to the world how you can actually change your perception of reality at home and ‘hack’ the senses to experience food and in this case Castello Extra Creamy Brie to a whole new level.

The Experiments

Touch

Did you know that the weight, texture, colour and shape of your cutlery can affect taste? These things can combine to enhance the user’s positive feelings. So in this first experiment in order to hack my senses I had to eat a sample of Castello Extra Creamy Brie from a smooth handled copper teaspoon and a ridge handled white plastic spoon. I experienced a beautifully creamy, mellow flavour from eating from the copper teaspoon where as the plastic one brought out a sharper and stronger flavour to the creamy texture.

Visual

Different colours can affect your perception of flavour and creaminess. So for this experiment I had a red, white and black plate that I had to focus on individually and slowly eat a sample of Castello Extra Creamy Brie. The white plate was meant to hack my senses by enhancing creaminess and/or sweetness and the red plate warn of danger. So what did I find. Well for me the Brie on the white plate did taste the creamiest and lightest in flavour. The red plate gave the Brie a more intense tang along with the creaminess. Finally the black plate gave the Brie the most intense strong flavour and was the least creamy in taste.

Auditory

I never realised that tempo and tone can have such an impact on our senses, I think I just heard years ago that they play fast music in fast food outlets to get you to eat quicker! Castello investigated which sounds, tones and tempos could hack the senses to give the strongest perception of creaminess. High-pitch, wind and string instruments with a ‘bouba-kiki’ effect were determined to be the strongest sensation of creaminess. So closing my eyes, I first had to listen to Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D Major (full of high pitches and a quick tempo) whilst slowly eating a sample of Brie which was meant to enhance the sweetness. Contrasting this, the second track I had to listen to whilst doing the same was Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No 1 in D Major which had a slower more relaxed tempo with no high pitches. I found the first track did indeed taste sweeter and creamier which I was surprised about as you’d think high pitch would have the opposite affect. The second slower track made the Brie taste much tangier and not sweet at all.

Summary

So what did I learn overall from the Castello Extra Creamy Brie “Hack your Senses” Taste Experimentss? Well first and foremost I really like the new Castello Extra Creamy Brie regardless of what I’m eating it from. But it was also fun to gain an understanding of how much our senses can be hacked to change our perception of taste. I knew that things like a stainless steel can affect flavour but I didn’t realise that colour and sound could also influence the way we taste things. Why not try out these experiments at home for yourself and let me know your findings? You can also join in the discussion about hacking your senses over on twitter @CastelloUK using the hashtag #CastelloCreamyBrie or head over to Castello’s facebook page.. 

If you want to surprise your senses with the immersive Castello Extra Creamy Brie experience then you can find it in Asda and Sainsbury’s with an RRP of £2. To find out more visit Castello.

NB Post commissioned by Castello, all opinions are my own.