Flavour: the science of our most neglected sense

Why should you serve red wine with classical music and white wine with pop music?

What is it about a heavier bowl that makes your pudding taste better? And how can you make your food taste saltier without adding more salt?

If any of these questions has sparked your appetite you need to read 'Flavour'.

New Scientist correspondent Bob Holmes has tasted a lot of things in the name of flavour.

He's travelled all over the world, delved into cutting-edge scientific research, enlisted chefs, psychologists, molecular gastronomists, flavourists and farmers, attended the weirdest conventions, and even received very rare access to one of the world's few highly secretive flavour houses.