Food: Salting the Sweet

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Salting the Sweet
Thursday, August 11, 2005

Ever since I can remember, my father has salted his watermelon. I sat and watched him for years: he would carefully sprinkle just a teensy bit of salt on each piece, eat that layer of fruit, then salt the next. It sounds a bit strange if you're not one who does that, but it is actually a fairly common practice. I recall trying it myself as a young child, and it was pretty good. The salt somehow complimented the sugary taste of the melon. I can see where some might prefer it, but it still seems strange to me.

However, the more closely I look, the more examples I see of the juxtaposition of salty tastes and sweet. I caught Dad salting his cantaloupe. He just put a sprinkle on it, but there it was. And to be honest, I tried that too. It wasn't too bad! Mom salts her fresh tomatoes. We all salt sweet corn. The more I think about it, the more examples of sweet and salty foods put together come to mind.

The world of culinary delights is full of salty sweet treats. A quick perusal of my snack cupboard started the list. I found chocolate-covered peanuts right on top of the pile. Salty peanuts are coated with sweet chocolate, and they are so good that they are nearly addictive. Right behind that package I found caramel-coated popcorn. Those salty puffs are covered with sticky, gooey, sweet caramel. Every crunch tastes sweet and then is immediately followed by the salty, buttery flavor of the popcorn.

The snack shop at the movie theater boasts sweet and salty treats, as well. There is kettle corn with its light and sugary coating, chocolate covered cashews, and chocolate covered pretzels. Even drinking sugary pop while eating salty popcorn probably qualifies. I always had thought that the theater owners liked to sell the salty treats so that their customers would get thirsty and drink more pop. Perhaps there's nothing that manipulative about it...maybe they just sell the snacks that they do because their customers happen to like it that way.

Kids' groups get into the act, too. Among the favorite recipes are variations on trail mix or gorp. This mixture of salted nuts, pretzels, and crackers is spiced up with chocolate candies, raisins, sweet cereals, or chocolate chips. One snack recipe for preteen girls involves chocolate-covered popcorn! It's an idea suggested for slumber party fun.

I'm not exactly sure why sweet and salty tastes compliment one another so well, but it seems that society agrees. Sweet and salty tastes make a nice combination. Perhaps it's because the tastes activate different sensations on the tongue, or maybe it's because the two tastes seem so different to the brain. Whatever the reason, salty and sweet are likely to be partners for a long time to come.

I shake my head at Dad's salted watermelons. They're all right in their own way, but I prefer the melon's naturally sweet flavor to shine through on its own. And now, it's time for my own snack. Let's see now.....I reach for my favorite combination of treats: chocolate drops and pretzels. Yum, yum!

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