In this episode, the hosts discuss the mystery behind artificial fruit flavors like banana and watermelon and how they don't actually taste like their natural counterparts. They also wonder how much of the perception of the flavor is influenced by marketing and label.
Adam and Josh discuss the myth of putting a full bottle of vodka inside a watermelon and whether it actually infuses with the fruit or not. A food writer for the Washington Post claims the myth is false because the watermelon contains too much liquid for the vodka to properly infuse.
A food writer suggests scooping out watermelon, letting it dry out a bit, and marinating it with an alcoholic mixture to create a fun summer treat, while also discussing the reason why there are no candies that truly tastes like watermelon, due to the aldehyde compound used to create the flavor.
In this podcast transcript, the hosts explore the challenges of replicating banana flavoring because its organic compounds break down too quickly. They also discuss the association between the yellow color and banana flavor in candy and suggest creating a gray-colored candy called "Who Cares."
Chuck and the speaker discuss the fun facts related to the watermelon including the watermelon festivals and parades. Shout out to a podcast episode of Gastropod about the social and natural history related to watermelons.