Why Does Sichuan Food Make Your Tongue Feel Numb?

<p>Towards the start of this fall semester, I visited a local sichuan restaurant near my campus with a few of my friends. We sat around a large, circular dining table and ordered a few dishes to share. I place an order for mapo tofu, which is my go-to at this place. While the service is inexplicably awful here, the food always hits the spot. After chatting for a while, the server brings out our food. As I dig in to my order, I am hit with that familiar spiciness: not only is it hot, but it also numbs my tongue.</p> <h2>The Science</h2> <p>What&rsquo;s causing that numbing and tingling heat on my tongue as I chow down on my mapo tofu? As always, there is a fascinating science behind this delicious bowl of spicy goodness.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/insights-of-nature/why-does-sichuan-food-make-your-tongue-feel-numb-d5ff276fee35"><strong>Visit Now</strong></a></p>