The sense that primarily helps in perceiving flavor is taste. Taste is one of the five traditional senses and is specifically responsible for detecting different flavors through taste buds located on the tongue. These taste buds identify five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
However, flavor is not solely determined by taste alone; it is a combination of taste and smell. When we eat, the aroma of food also plays a significant role in how we perceive flavor. While smell enhances our experience of flavor, taste provides the foundational perception of sweetness, bitterness, and other basic flavors.
Other senses, such as touch, can influence how we perceive texture but do not directly contribute to the sense of flavor itself. Sight can affect our expectations about flavor and appearance but does not contribute to the actual perception of taste or flavor. Therefore, taste is essential for identifying and enjoying different flavors in food.