maista

Maista is a Finnish verb form used as the imperative of maistaa, meaning to taste. It is commonly employed to invite someone to try a food or drink or to instruct someone to sample a flavor during cooking, dining, or sensory evaluation.

Grammar and usage: The infinitive of the verb is maistaa. The imperative singular is maista, and the imperative plural is maistakaa. In ordinary speech and writing, maista appears in commands or suggestions such as “Maista tätä juustoa” (Taste this cheese) or “Maistakaa kastike ennen tarjoilua” (Taste the sauce before serving). The form is typically followed by a direct object identifying what should be tasted, and it can appear in various tenses and moods through other conjugations of maistaa.

Etymology and related terms: Maistaa is related to maku, meaning taste or flavor, and forms part of a family of Finnish verbs connected with sensory experience. Related nouns include maku (taste/flavor) and maistaminen (the act of tasting or savoring). The imperative maista is a common feature in recipes, tasting notes, and culinary instruction.

Notes: Maista as an imperative should be distinguished from other moods and conjugations of maistaa, which express different aspects or subjects. In written Finnish, maistaa and its imperatives are widely understood in culinary and everyday contexts. See also maku, maistaminen, and related sensory terminology.