Scientists discovered why cola and salty snacks taste so good together

If you enjoy washing down salted crisps with a cool cola, you’re not alone. It turns out that an acid found in these beverages appears to open up sodium channels in our tongue’s taste receptors, enhancing the salty flavour. Adding the acid to food might therefore let manufacturers use less salt, which can raise the risk of high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Daniel Mohr Collier at the University of Tennessee Health …