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  • From: "Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>
  • To: "'North American Fruit Explorers'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Are all rhubarbs the same?
  • Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:24:46 -0800

I still wonder what an MD would say. Wild-ass guessing, probably completely
off-base, follows:

I can sorta see that oxalic acid, like all acids, can interfere with the
potassium channels involved in taste - but that generally results in a sour
taste, not the loss of taste. However, I think that oxalic binds with
potassium to form a precipitate. That would wash away, taking the potassium
with it. No potassium would, I think, profoundly reduce the sense of taste.
Yes, zinc is involved too, and would also be bound into a precipitate, and
maybe that would have gone on. As I try to picture the chemistry and
physiology, I think first of the potassium ion channels.
Such binding of ions could happen with a prolonged visitation of oxalic acid
on the tongue, in an amount far short of what would be toxic. But why would
it persist? Perhaps if such a thing occurred it could physically damage the
structures needed for the chemical reactions that produce taste. But like I
said, I'm probably talkin' crazy here. You just got me thinking about the
biochemistry involved. Thinking in a lazy way that prevents any sort of
research. But still, a little fun.

~ Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jay Cutts
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 11:55 AM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Are all rhubarbs the same?

Stephen,

Thanks for your input. I could not taste any of the simple tastes you
mentioned. The rhubarb was not sprayed. It was from my own unsprayed
garden.
I've read that zinc is implicated in taste. I had chewed a lot on the
stems
and wondered if just that mechanical action had caused some damage.

There was no burning in the mouth or vomiting. The loss took a couple hours
to become complete.

> Could you sense sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or did you lose complex
flavor?
> Could the rhubarb have been sprayed? The oxalic acid could theoretically
> have bound to enough zinc to have reduced your sense of taste - but I
can't
> find any reference to that actually having happened. If you had that much
> oxalic acid, I would think you would have had other symptoms - burning in
> the mouth, for instance, or vomiting. This is the sort of symptom I would
> take to a doctor.
>
> ~ Stephen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jay Cutts
> Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 9:20 AM
> To: North American Fruit Explorers
> Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Are all rhubarbs the same?
>
> Rhubarb question: I had a strange experience with rhubarb not too long
> ago and wonder if anyone has heard of this. After munching on some raw
> rhubarb stalks on a hot summer day (which I remember doing as a kid), I
> basically lost my sense of taste for a week. It was a horrifying
> experience, especially since I didn't know if the loss would be
> permanent. It's hard to describe how devastating it is not to be able
> to taste anything.
>
> I know that rhubarb contains oxalic acid, which is a tiny crystal that
> can physically damage tissues. I know that the leaves of rhubarb are
> not supposed to be eaten for this reason. I wouldn't want anyone to go
> through the taste loss that I experienced, especially if it ends up
> being long lasting. Has anyone heard of this phenomenon? I believe
> that oxalic acid is broken down by cooking.
>
> Jay Cutts
> > I had two rhubard plants side by side in a rhubarb-unfriendly climate
and
> I'm surprised how different they were. One was a lot more red and tastier
> but did not thrive; the other did somewhat better, tended to bolt, and
> wasn't as good (I simmered with sugar for tasting). I don't recall now
what
> the flavor difference was, I'd have thought rhubard is mostly just tart.
> >
> > Lisa (previously in hot dry sunny Southern Oregon)
> >
> >
> >> thinking of planting out a big patch of rhubarb. I'm
> >> curious if there
> >> is really much difference between rhubarbs, especially as
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
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