Material name: Tasting Bottles
Area: Sensorial – Taste
Purpose & developmental benefits:
Tasting Bottles help children discriminate and identify basic tastes through a controlled tasting experience. Children learn to focus on their sense of taste, compare different flavors, and express their sensations using language. This work refines the gustatory sense while also supporting vocabulary development and mindful sensory awareness.
Skills supported:
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Recognizes and names the four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter
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Matches bottles with the same taste using taste alone
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Refines taste discrimination and gustatory memory
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Develops concentration, orderly work habits, and self-correction
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Expands language for describing flavors and personal preferences in a respectful way
Recommended age: 3–6 years (Casa)
(Nienhuis indicates a minimum age of 3+)
Material & design:
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A standard Nienhuis set consisting of 8 glass bottles with droppers (4 matching pairs)
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4 bottles with black caps and 4 bottles with red caps, allowing two sets for matching
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Includes a wooden work tray
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Taste solutions are prepared by the adult:
Use in the classroom / at home:
Children carry the tray to a table or work mat, with water and paper towels provided. Using the dropper, the child places a small amount onto a spoon or cup to taste, then finds the matching bottle by comparing flavors between the red- and black-capped sets.
As skill increases, all eight bottles may be mixed for matching, or gradation activities (stronger/weaker taste) can be introduced if prepared by the teacher. This activity requires adult supervision to ensure hygiene and food safety.
