smaklöken

Smaklöken is a Swedish term that most commonly refers to a taste bud, the sensory receptor on the tongue responsible for detecting taste stimuli. In Swedish anatomy, a single taste bud is called en smaklök, while taste buds collectively are smaklökar. The definite form smaklöken can denote “the taste bud” or, in a broader sense, the set of taste buds.

Etymologically, the word combines smak (taste) and lök (bulb or bulb-like structure). In medical and anatomical usage, lök is used to describe bulb-shaped organs, including taste buds, rather than its everyday meaning of onion. The term has been part of Swedish scientific and educational language for many decades and appears in discussions of gustation and sensory biology.

In addition to its anatomical sense, Smaklöken can appear as a proper noun in Swedish branding. It is used as the name of cafés, restaurants, or other food-related enterprises, where the term functions as a sensory or atmospheric brand rather than a biological reference. When used in this way, the name does not indicate a direct connection to taste buds but aims to evoke flavor, aroma, or culinary experience.

See also: Gustation, Taste bud.