#flavor-pairing

Science of flavor pairing and affinity. Principle: ingredients with shared flavor compounds pair well. Coffee + chocolate: both contain pyrazines (roasted, nutty notes). Other natural pairs: tomato + basil, strawberry + balsamic, pork + apple. Flavor wheel: use to identify complementary flavors. Contrasting pairs: sweet + salty, acid + fat. Applications: menu development, dessert creation, cocktails. Database: foodpairing.com for molecular analysis. Experiment: taste, document, iterate. Explain volatile compounds, aroma, and taste vs flavor difference.