Why mint tastes cold?

Maybe because it is manufactured in Antarctica.

Not at all.

Wait, I will explain.

Our tongue is actually a muscle which consists of many taste buds or receptors.

Are they similar to my earbuds?

No.

When foods having flavors such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter or umami come in contact with these taste receptors and activate them.

They send signals to the brain, telling us their taste.

However, when we eat mint, it feels or tastes cold.

This is because mint contains a compound called menthol.

Menthol does not activate the taste receptors, but instead, it activates the cold sensing receptors in our tongue.

Hence, these receptors send messages to our brain signaling cold.

As a result, the brain thinks that something cold is present in our mouth, thus making mint taste cold.