Dictionary Definition
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Noun
- The degree to which something is piquant, stimulating or exciting.
Translations
degree to which something is piquant
- German: Pikanterie
Extensive Definition
Pungency is a sharp and biting sensory impression. Regarding
chili
peppers, it refers to a scientific equivalent of the Scoville
scale of measuring spicyness.
Mechanism
The pungent feeling caused by allyl
isothiocyanate, capsaicin, piperine, and allicin is caused by activation
of the heat and acidity sensing TRPC ion channel
TRPC1 on pain sensing nociceptors.
See also
piquancy in Spanish: Picante
piquancy in Japanese: 辛味
piquancy in Chinese: 辣