Which set lists the five basic tastes?

• A. Salty, Sour, Bitter, Umami, Sweet
• B. Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Metallic, Tangy
• C. Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter, Piquant
• D. Umami, Astringent, Nutty, Tangy, Salty

Answer: (A)

Five basic tastes are the fundamental categories your tongue can detect: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. This option is correct because it lists exactly those five and nothing else. Historically, sweetness, sourness, saltiness, and bitterness were recognized first, and umami was identified later as a distinct savory taste linked to amino acids like glutamate. The other choices mix in sensations or descriptors that aren’t classified as basic tastes—spicy is a pain/temperature sensation, and terms like metallic, tangy, piquant, astringent, and nutty aren’t among the standard basic tastes. So the set that matches the recognized five tastes is the one containing sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.