Tasting Exercise

Name: Tasting Exercise
Brand: Nienhuis Montessori
SKU: NIE-001550
Price: 72.88 EUR
Availability: InStock

Price

€72.88

Final price — seller not VAT-registered

Shipping & Delivery

In Stock · 2-3 days

Quantity

Age Range3-6 Years

MaterialSolid wood with natural finish

DimensionsApprox. 30 × 15 × 10 cm

CertificationAMI Approved

About

Part of the Food Preparation collection, this professional-grade Tasting Exercise set from Nienhuis features nine amber glass dropper bottles housed in a quality wooden tray with recessed compartments for organized storage. The alternating black and pink rubber droppers provide visual distinction while children explore gustatory discrimination through carefully prepared taste samples, developing their sensory perception and vocabulary for describing flavors.

“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”

— Maria MontessoriThe Discovery of the Child

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Everything You Need

Wooden storage trayWith handle cutout and recessed compartments

9 amber glass bottlesWith dropper caps (5 black, 4 pink)

The Montessori Method

The Tasting Exercise with amber glass dropper bottles addresses the child's critical need to refine gustatory discrimination during the sensorial sensitive period. Between ages three and six, children actively seek experiences that isolate and clarify each sense, and the Tasting Exercise provides precise control through its dropper bottles that release exact amounts of liquid. The wooden tray's recessed compartments create an ordered environment where children can methodically explore sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes. The alternating black and pink rubber droppers enable children to establish a system for organizing their taste explorations, transforming abstract flavor concepts into concrete experiences. Through repeated work with these nine bottles, children build the neural pathways necessary for refined taste discrimination, laying groundwork for future appreciation of subtle flavors in foods. The amber glass protects taste solutions from light degradation while allowing children to observe the careful handling required for this precise sensorial work.

✹Gustatory discrimination between sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes✹Precise fine motor control through dropper manipulation✹Vocabulary development for describing taste sensations✹Sequential thinking through systematic taste exploration✹Scientific observation skills through taste comparison

AMI Certified

Activity Guide

Step by Step to Mastery

5 steps to mastery

Practice with water first to perfect the single-drop technique

Wait 10 seconds between tastes for clear discrimination

Use descriptive language only after child has tasted

Start with contrasting tastes (sweet/bitter) before similar ones

Sweet-sour combinations challenge refined discrimination

Browse steps

Practice with water first to perfect the single-drop technique

Wait 10 seconds between tastes for clear discrimination

Use descriptive language only after child has tasted

Start with contrasting tastes (sweet/bitter) before similar ones

Sweet-sour combinations challenge refined discrimination

Developmental Benefits

Why Educators Choose This

Gustatory Discrimination

Refines the sense of taste by isolating and comparing different flavors, building sensory awareness and discrimination skills.

Vocabulary Development

Expands descriptive language as children learn to articulate subtle differences between sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastes.

Scientific Method

Introduces systematic exploration through controlled tastings, developing observation and comparison skills essential for scientific thinking.

Fine Motor Control

Using the droppers strengthens pincer grip and hand-eye coordination while teaching precise, controlled movements.

Demonstrate proper cleaning

rinse droppers between different tastes to prevent contamination

Observe children's facial expressions as valuable assessment of their taste discrimination development

Create a taste journal where children can draw or describe their taste experiences

Pro Tip

“Replace solutions weekly and label bottle bottoms with taste types for quick verification”

The Gold Standard in Montessori

Every Child Is a Little Creator

Heritage

Since 1929

Trusted by

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Handcrafted

in Europe

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Have Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this material.

Contact Our Experts

What types of tastes should I prepare for this exercise?

Prepare four basic tastes: sweet (sugar water), salty (salt water), sour (diluted lemon juice), and bitter (tonic water). Start with mild concentrations and adjust based on children's sensitivity. You can also introduce umami (mild broth) for older children.

How do I present this activity to a 3-year-old?

Begin with just two contrasting tastes (sweet and salty). Demonstrate placing one drop on your tongue using the dropper, describe the taste, then invite the child to try. Gradually introduce more tastes as the child becomes comfortable with the exercise.

Why are there nine bottles when there are only four basic tastes?

The extra bottles allow for variations in concentration, creating a grading exercise where children can sequence tastes from mild to strong. They also enable matching exercises with duplicate taste samples and provide flexibility for introducing additional flavors like umami or herbal tastes.

How often should I change the taste solutions?

Replace taste solutions weekly or biweekly depending on usage. Always use distilled water for preparations, store the tray in a cool area away from direct sunlight, and check solutions before each use. Label preparation dates on the tray's underside.

What language and vocabulary should I introduce with this material?

Start with basic taste names: sweet, salty, sour, bitter. Gradually introduce descriptive language like 'mild,' 'strong,' 'pleasant,' 'sharp.' Encourage comparisons to familiar foods and discuss where we taste different flavors on our tongue.

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