Bland Plane Food? It’s Not Them, It’s You

Sure, airplane food is generally underwhelming but did you ever consider that maybe it’s not them it’s you?

Airplane food is infamous for being subpar. It’s not often I’ve heard a traveler rave about their in-flight meal. Sure, airplane food is generally underwhelming but did you ever consider that maybe it’s not them it’s you? According to recent research by the team at Lufthansa airlines, our taste buds are different at a high altitude and in cabin pressure; in fact our small taste buds almost diminish. Food needs to be seasoned differently in order to cater the change.

In their study, Lufthansa had participants taste in a normal environment and then teamed up with Germany’s Frown Institute and used a special cabin that simulated an altitude of 3000 meters. What they noticed is that though participants were consuming the same meals, they were requesting more salt and sugar while in high altitude. For meals to taste the same at a higher altitude, the salt and sugar would need to be increased by 30 percent. And our taste for acidity is increased by 50 percent. After further research, they’ve found that ingredients like Umami (soy, miso) and warm spices; curry, ginger and chili keep their similar profile after the change.

Now, while brainstorming in-flight meals, Lufthansa takes these factors into consideration. Of course they can’t add more salt and sugar for obvious reasons however they use natural aroma intensifiers like tomato serum and orange oil as well as lemon fibre (the white part of the lemon) to naturally enhance flavours.