# Caffeine Chemistry: is flavor created? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-chemistry-is-flavor-created/274564 "2004-11-13T14:35:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Biggles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@Mr.Biggles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Biggles)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-chemistry-is-flavor-created/274564/1 "2004-11-13T14:35:01Z")
Was involved in a discussion regarding caffeine and caffeine-free beverages recently. I am pretty sure I’m a caffeine addict which may alter my “test” results, anyhow the discussion hinged on how I was unable to tolerate caffeine-free colas. I was able to taste a difference in blind tests. Likewise with coffee. It then moved onto the debate of whether caffeine has a flavor or not. At first, my own experience would have put me the “yes, it does” category, but then I got to thinking about root beer. Being one to enjoy root beer every now and then, I took notice that some brands were caffeine-free and some weren’t. In each case I was unable to notice a discernable difference, other than the usual flavor variation. Meaning I didn’t gag like I usually do with non-caffeine beverages. So my question comes down to this: Does caffeine alter the flavor due to an interaction of existing ingredients? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-chemistry-is-flavor-created/274564/2 "2004-11-13T15:24:29Z")
Caffeine itself has a slightly bitter flavor. The effect of its removal on the flavor of a beverage can be covered up by adding a _different_ bitter substance.