Six tastes in Āyurveda

Madhura – Sweet Taste

Fruits	bananas, cantaloupe, dates, figs, mangos, melons, prunes
Vegetables	beets, carrots (cooked), cucumber, olives, sweet potatoes
Grains	corn, rice, wheat
Legumes	garbanzo beans, lentils (red), mung beans, navy beans, tofu, urad dal
Nuts & Seeds	almonds, cashews, coconut, pumpkin seeds
Dairy & Eggs	ghee, milk, eggs
Meat	beef, buffalo, pork, salmon
Sweeteners	all
Spices & Flavorings	basil, bay leaf, caraway, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, fennel, mint, nutmeg, saffron, tarragon, vanilla

Amla – Sour Taste

Fruits	grapefruit, lemon, lime, raisins, tamarind
Vegetables	pickles, tomatoes
Grains	dough breads
Dairy & Eggs	butter, cheese, sour cream, yogurt
Other	alcohol, vinegar, most fermented foods
Spices & Flavorings	lemon juice, lime juice, garlic, savory

Lavana – Salty Taste

Vegetables	celery, seaweed
Dairy	cottage cheese
Meat & Fish	tuna
Spices & Flavorings	table salt, sea salt, rock salt, gamasio, soy sauce, tamari

Katu – Pungent Taste

Vegetables	chilies, garlic, leeks, onions, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, turnips, raw spinach
Grains	buckwheat, spelt
Nuts & Seeds	mustard seeds
Spices	most spices, especially black pepper, cardamom, cayenne, cloves, ginger, hing, mustard seeds, and paprika

Tikta – Bitter Taste

Vegetables	bitter melon, burdock root, leafy greens (like kale, collards, dandelion greens or yellow dock), eggplant, artichokes
Other	sesame seeds, sesame oil, coffee, dark chocolate
Spices	cumin, dill, fenugreek, saffron, turmeric

Kashaya – Astringent

Fruits	apples, bananas (green), cranberries, pomegranate
Vegetables	alfalfa sprouts, avocado, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots (raw), cauliflower, green beans, lettuce, peas, potatoes, most raw vegetables
Grains	pasta (wheat), rye
Legumes	most beans are astringent
Nuts & Seeds	popcorn
Meat	chicken (light meat), venison
Spices & Flavorings	basil, bay leaf, caraway, coriander, dill, fennel, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, poppy seeds, rosemary, saffron, turmeric, vanilla