Sweet and Sour?
In comments related to this question, there was discussion about pH, fructose concentration, what compounds a fruit contains, etc. influencing or determining "flavor".
Much more recently, I had a couple kiwifruits, which seemed to have a very sweet flavor but left me with the feeling of a mild acid burn on my tongue and lips, similar to the feeling of eating too much fresh pineapple. Both of those fruits are listed as Acid fruits here, along with strawberries (which have a flavor experience of being sweet and not acidic).
This question indicates that the perception of acids in food is more a function of how many anions are in a food (as a % of total molecules), not the pH. At the same time, pH may be important for certain chemical processes in food preparation.
This question, among other sources, frames sweetness and sourness as opposites, and strange (but common) to put together in a dish - yet these two seem to be together naturally in some fruits (e.g. kiwi & pineapple as discussed above). This question suggests that sugar masks perception of sourness (but not acidity) and this one suggests sweetness actually reduces sourness (but not acidity), rather than just masking it.
Is there any connection, linkage, or correlation (even if negative) between sweetness and sourness, ideally based on an understanding of what attributes in a food underly these? Are they independent of one another?
Pictures about "Sweet and Sour?"
What is Chinese sweet and sour sauce made of?
What's in sweet and sour sauce? This simple and delicious homemade sweet and sour sauce recipe has a few ingredients: 100% pineapple juice, vinegar, salt, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch and water. You can adjust the amount of cornstarch depending on how thick the sauce you want.What is sweet and sour flavor?
Sweet-and-Sour is a term used to describe a dish whose taste contains elements of both a sweet taste and a sour taste. Usually the balancing is done with an added sauce. The sweet can come from something such as sugar, syrup or fruit.Why do they call it sweet and sour?
Its name comes from "agro" (sour) and "dolce" (sweet). Agrodolce is made by reducing sour and sweet elements, traditionally vinegar and sugar. Sometimes, additional flavorings are added, such as wine, fruit, or even chocolate.Is sweet and sour Chinese Traditional?
Sweet and sour sauce is usually associated with the authentic Chinese combination of rice vinegar and sugar. The probable origin of this sweet and sour mixture is the Chinese province of Hunan, where it was originally used as a condiment or a sauce for fish, meat, and vegetables.Amelia Moore - sweet and sour (Visualizer)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Engin Akyurt, Jessica Lewis Creative, Engin Akyurt, Tara Winstead