If you look closely at your tongue in a mirror, you will see many tiny bumps on it. The bumps are your taste buds and you have about three thousand of them. Only substances that are in solution can be tasted. When you eat, saliva dissolves chemicals in your food. Tiny atoms from these chemicals come into contact with hairs on your taste buds producing the sensation of taste. As the atoms move faster, the taste sensation grows stronger. This is why most food is tastier when it is warm. Out taste buds can identify sweet, salt, bitter and sour tastes. The back of your tongue is more sensitive to bitter taste, as the atoms move faster, the taste sensation grows stronger. This is why most food is tastier when it is warm. Our taste buds can identify sweet, salt, bitter and sour tastes. The back of your tongue is more sensitive to bitter taste, while the front is more sensitive to sweet.