Smakshjul

Smakshjul, commonly translated as "taste wheel," is a visual tool used in sensory science, culinary arts, and consumer education to organize and communicate the sensory attributes of foods and beverages. A smakshjul typically appears as a circular diagram divided into segments that represent flavor categories and aromatic notes. The center usually highlights basic tastes such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, while outer rings collect secondary flavors, aromas, textures, and aftertastes. The exact categories and layout vary by practitioner and purpose.

Smakshjul is used to standardize language for describing sensory experiences, train taste panels, and support product development, menu design, and flavor pairing. It can be customized for specific products (such as coffee, beer, chocolate) or cuisines, and may be employed as an educational tool for consumers to improve flavor literacy. Digital and printed versions exist, some with color coding and intensity scales.

Construction can range from simple two-layer wheels to more elaborate multi-layer diagrams, sometimes separating taste, aroma, and mouthfeel. Some wheels emphasize aroma over retronasal notes; others integrate wine or coffee flavor descriptors with intensity cues.

Limitations include potential oversimplification of complex perceptions, cultural and individual differences, and the risk of constraining language to predefined terms. As a result, smakshjul is typically used in conjunction with other sensory methods and descriptive lexicons.

See also: Flavor wheel, aroma wheel, sensory analysis.