One beverage that rules them all on a flight is tomato juice. This nutritious drink is a firm favourite among plane passengers, and in-flight consumption is said to be pretty steep. In fact, back in 2008, German airline Lufthansa noticed they were going through an awful lot of tomato juice – a whopping 1.7 million litres year. This sparked an investigation into the popularity of tomato juice at high altitudes, which led to pretty interesting results.
Better Under Pressure
In 2010, scientists at Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) revealed that our taste for tomato juice at 30,000ft is enhanced because of the different air pressure conditions. Under the low cabin pressure, our taste detectors and sense of smell are completely different. Whilst on the ground tomato juice, such as V8 Original, is a savoury delight. However, once in the air it becomes an instantly sweet and fruity drink – the perfect, refreshing treat on a long-haul flight.
Whilst we’re on a plane, the low air pressure affects how much oxygen reaches the blood, and this desensitises our odour and taste receptors. Low air pressure also causes mucus in our naval cavities to expand, which further affects our taste and sense of smell. Basically, our perceptions of food and drink mimic what it’s like when we have a cold. Salt is suddenly perceived as 20-30% less intense, whilst the intensity of sugar drops by 15-20%. This explains why aeroplane food tastes bland – and why the strong, natural flavours of tomato juice suddenly taste more intense and satisfying.
Noise-Resistant
In the study, 1000 participants were put in a flight simulator that mimicked the environment of an airplane – complete with the turbulence, air pressure and engine noise. The researchers then served the participants food and drink, and 27% ordered tomato juice. Of this number, 23% admitted they rarely drink the juice at home.
Whilst the study did not specifically conclude that the noise of an aeroplane contributes to the influx of tomato juice orders, there are theories suggesting that aircraft background noise could also have an influence on our taste buds. In the article, Airplane Noise and the Taste of Umami (published in the Flavour Journal), the authors suggest food and drink rich in umami – a pleasant savoury taste found in a wide range of foods, such as tomato juice – is resistant to the white noise on an airplane.
Whilst more research is needed to conclude this, a number of airlines now prioritise umami-rich menus to cater for passengers in the air – with tomato juice and Bloody Mary’s at the top of the list! So next time you’re flying off somewhere, be sure to order some tomato juice to find out exactly how the delicious beverage tastes at 30,000ft up.
If you haven’t got any flights booked in the near future, you can make your own V8 Original Bloody Mary Mocktail with all the flavour of an in-flight tipple.
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