Why does tomato juice taste better on a plane?

Salt is suddenly perceived as 20-30% less intense, whilst the intensity of sugar drops by 15-20%. Tomato juice tastes better on a plane because the strong, natural flavours of tomato juice taste more intense and satisfying when your taste buds are being suppressed by cabin pressure.



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The dry cabin air messes with our odor receptors, and since things taste differently when our sense of smell is impaired—think about eating when you have a cold—food tastes blander on a plane than it does on the ground. That same principle is what makes tomato juice taste better in the air.

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Here's why: When you're cruising at altitude, cabin pressure is low -- similar to the atmosphere one mile above sea level. That low pressure does several things. Your blood gets less oxygen, which makes your odor and taste receptors less sensitive.

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It should come as no surprise that the healthiest thing to drink on a plane is water, which also happens to be the healthiest thing to drink on land. Inside an airplane cabin, the air is extremely dry, putting you at heightened risk of dehydration. That can lead to nausea, headaches, and other unpleasant outcomes.

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“Most flight attendants won't drink the tap water, coffee, or tea,” said Whytney before noting that the latter two options also tend to dehydrate — another reason to stay away from them while traveling.

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It's a list of four things you definitely should NOT eat or drink right before hopping on a plane . . .
  • Salty foods. It's common for people to get dehydrated on planes, thanks to the dry air in the cabin. ...
  • Carbonated beverages. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Coffee.


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Generally, some common reasons for pilot drinking include: Stress and anxiety. Jetlag. Fatigue.

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There are plenty of reasons you might opt to drink, said Slater, who worked for TWA and Delta before moving to JetBlue. “The fact that you're away from home, you're away from your social support, you miss your holidays, you miss your weekends. You're isolated a lot. It's going to be very, very lonely.

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Cornell University food scientists say airplane noise, which tends to hover around 85 decibels, can affect travelers' taste buds — suppressing their taste for sweet stuff and boosting the taste of umami-rich foods like tomato juice.

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It's Diet Coke. Simply put, it takes a long time to pour because air pressure means there is more fizz when the can is opened. And when you have a flight full of passengers eager to order a drink, it can become frustrating for cabin crew who have to put up with the whinging and whining.

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However, this can be counteractive, especially since it can dehydrate you when flying. It is also best to avoid caffeine if you are an anxious flyer. Choose a calming drink like camomile or peppermint tea to help you relax, or even just water.

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What's False: Drinking alcohol at altitude does not affect the concentration of alcohol in your blood anymore than it does at sea-level, as this Austrian study notes. The FAA has also conducted numerous studies, further backing this evidence.

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