People are putting soy sauce on their testicles to see if they can ‘taste’ it after a study resurfaced online — but doctors insist that any sensation of flavor that they claim to detect is all in their heads.
The strange science experiments started after a young lady named Regan came across an article about a 2013 study that determined mice have a form of taste receptors in their testes. She posted her findings on the popular social media app TikTok.
Did ya’ll know that if a dude puts his balls in something he can taste it? He can taste it!
I wish I was kidding. I wish I was. I’m not. If you have testicles, please dip your balls in something. It’s for science, and I must know. Thank you.
After the video began to gain traction around social media, some me decided to try it out — in the name of science of course.
In the video, the dude explains that he was compelled to try it out for himself because the study stated the taste receptors on the testicles and anus can detect the amino acid in soy sauce.
But I’m not gonna put it on my anus. I’m gonna let my little boys just try it out. I’m literally feeding my twins.
After he does a little dippy doo, he states “Oh my God, I can taste the salt! That’s ridiculous.”
Another user Matthew Lush also claims to taste something in his video.
Everyone is saying you can taste soy sauce with your balls, so I’m gonna try it and see if I can f**king taste this. This better not ruin my Calvin Kleins I swear to God.
And he began describing his experience.
I don’t know if I am just imagining this,’ he says, laughing. ‘I literally I don’t know if I just smell it and I taste it … Wait. What the f**k?
After the videos started going viral, Dr. Kirten Parekh, a 31-year-old foot and ankle surgeon in New Jersey, made his own clip discrediting the claims.
This has more to do with male fertility and spermatogenesis,’ he explains The functional implications of taste receptors distributed throughout the body are still unknown. Chances are you won’t “taste” anything in your dip experiments.
He spoke with BuzzFeed News:
Just because you have taste buds in that area doesn’t mean you can physically taste those flavors. Your body might receive it, but you won’t have a perceptive taste of sweet, sour, or whatever flavor.
drkierankennedy/Instagram
Dr. Kieran Kennedy, a psychiatrist in Melbourne, Australia, agreed, telling Australian Men’s Health that while studies have shown that various tissues — including the testicles — have taste receptors, none of the research has proved that any animal can actually ‘taste’ via these receptors.
He does, however, have an explanation for the salt people thought they were tasting when they put soy sauce on their testicles.
When you think about it, even if you imagine or anticipate tasting something salty (like chips) or sour (a lemon), then you’ll notice your mouth water and even a potential hint of a taste.
Add that to the fact that these guys are probably getting a big whiff of soy sauce as they “prepare,” and it likely explains away any reported “taste” experience.
