Retastear

Retastear is a Spanish verb that means to taste again a sample after an initial tasting, especially in culinary or beverage contexts. It implies re-evaluating flavor, aroma, mouthfeel, and balance, sometimes after changes to the product, aeration, or time.

Etymology: the word is formed with the prefix re- attached to tastear (to taste). It is generally considered informal or regional and is not uniformly standardized across dictionaries. In many contexts, speakers may prefer volver a probar or volver a degustar.

Usage: retastear is commonly used in wine, coffee, chocolate, beer tastings, or in recipe development and product testing. It enables tasters to confirm or adjust impressions, detect aftertastes, or observe changes after air exposure, temperature changes, or aging. In professional sensory work, retaste sessions can be part of a structured tasting protocol.

Conjugation example: present indicative yo retasteo, tú retasteas, él retastea, nosotros retasteamos, vosotros retasteáis, ellos retastean.

Related terms: degustar, saborear, degustación, cata. The distinction is that retastear emphasizes a second tasting to reassess or refine initial impressions, rather than a first evaluation.

Status: The term is informal and regional and may not appear in all standard Spanish dictionaries. For greater clarity, phrases such as volver a probar or volver a degustar are often preferred in formal writing.