How many taste buds do we have and how do they work?

The answer

The average adult has between 2,000 and 10,000 taste buds, each containing 50 to 100 taste receptor cells that are replaced approximately every 10 to 14 days. Humans detect five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory). The old tongue map showing different regions for different tastes is a widespread myth originating from a misinterpretation of a 1901 German thesis; in reality, all taste qualities can be detected across the entire tongue surface, though slight regional sensitivity differences exist. Each taste receptor cell specializes in detecting one taste quality through specific receptor proteins. Recently, researchers have proposed additional taste categories, including fat (oleogustus), starch, calcium, and carbonation, though not all are universally accepted as primary tastes.