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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe a range of different ingredients used to flavour dishes from around the world.

      Key learning points

      1. Herbs, spices, fruits and aromatic ingredients have a range of smells and flavours.
      2. Different cuisines around the world are associated with different smells and flavours.
      3. The sensory attributes of ingredients can be described and rated (measured).

      Keywords

      • Cuisine - a style or method of cooking in a certain country or region

      • Senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch

      • Herbs - leafy green parts of plants which are used in cooking

      • Spices - the seeds, roots, bark, or dried fruit of plants

      • Aromatic - other fruit and vegetables that add aroma and flavour to dishes, e.g. garlic, fresh ginger

      Common misconception

      Sensory evaluation can only help us decide whether we like a food or not.

      Sensory evaluation can help us decide whether we like foods, but also allows us to describe and compare foods.

      Teacher tip

      This lesson involves pupils tasting and describing a range of foods. Have the food samples, such as citrus fruits, herbs, spices, garlic and ginger, cut into small pieces before the lesson, so that time is not wasted. Encourage pupils to handle, smell and taste the foods. Always check for allergies.

      Equipment

      A range of ingredients (pre-prepared) for sensory testing. Paper towels.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these is a lime?

      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q2.
      The __________ is used to detect the taste of a food.

      eye
      nose
      Correct answer: mouth

      Q3.
      Match the following senses:

      Correct Answer:sight,it looks green and lumpy

      it looks green and lumpy

      Correct Answer:smell,is has a sweet and buttery smell

      is has a sweet and buttery smell

      Correct Answer:taste,it has a very spicy taste

      it has a very spicy taste

      Correct Answer:texture,it is crunchy

      it is crunchy

      Q4.
      Which of these cuisines traditionally uses lots of rice in their dishes?

      Correct answer: Chinese
      British
      Correct answer: Japanese
      Italian
      Polish

      Q5.
      What word best describes this fruit?

      An image in a quiz
      sour
      bitter
      Correct answer: sweet
      salty

      Q6.
      Sort the following into the correct order for tasting a food:

      1 - Look at the food, describe its appearance.
      2 - Smell the food, using your nose.
      3 - Taste the food in your mouth.
      4 - Describe the texture of the food, as you eat it.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      __________ come from the seeds, roots, bark, or dried fruit of plants.

      herbs
      Correct answer: spices
      salads
      fruits

      Q2.
      Match the following cuisines to their popular foods:

      Correct Answer:Italian,pizza, lasagne, risotto and focaccia bread

      pizza, lasagne, risotto and focaccia bread

      Correct Answer:Indian,dhal, tandoori chicken, naan bread and biryani

      dhal, tandoori chicken, naan bread and biryani

      Correct Answer:Japanese,sushi, ramen (noodle soup) and tempura

      sushi, ramen (noodle soup) and tempura

      Correct Answer:Ghanaian,jollof rice, fufu, peanut soup and waakye (rice and beans)

      jollof rice, fufu, peanut soup and waakye (rice and beans)

      Q3.
      Match the following ingredient types:

      Correct Answer:herbs,mint, coriander

      mint, coriander

      Correct Answer:spices,cardamom, cumin

      cardamom, cumin

      Correct Answer:aromatic ingredients,garlic, lemongrass

      garlic, lemongrass

      Correct Answer:fruit,lime, pomegranate

      lime, pomegranate

      Q4.
      The process of describing or rating food, using our senses, is called ...

      sense evaluation.
      sensing evaluation.
      sensational evaluation.
      Correct answer: sensory evaluation.

      Q5.
      is used in Middle Eastern stews and, in the UK, apple crumble.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: Cinnamon, cinnamon

      Q6.
      True or false? Sensory evaluation can only help us decide whether we like a food or not.

      true
      Correct answer: false

      To help you plan your 5 cooking and nutrition lesson on: Food for the senses, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...