Six Tastes of Food

1. The Sweet Taste - The sweet taste increases bodily tissues, nourishes and comforts the body and relieves hunger. Most grains, fruits are of sweet taste. Almost all foods contain some degree of sweetness. This is most dominant taste of all our forms of sustenance.
2. The Sour Taste - The sour taste is used in small quantities by everyone. It aids in digestion and the elimination of waste from the body. Many fruits like lemon, limes, grape fruit, berries are considered to be sour with some sweetness. All fermented foods like soya sauce, yogurt, pickles are sour foods.
3. The Pungent Taste - The pungent taste stimulates appetite, maintains the metabolism and balance of secretions in the body. Spices such as garlic, ginger, asafoetida (hing) , peppers and all volatile oils are considered pungent.
4. The Salty Taste - The salty taste cleanses bodily tissues, makes the system limber and activates digestion. This taste exist in all salts and seaweeds. Most watery vegetables like zucchini (tori type), cucumber and  green leafy vegetables are naturally high in salt.
5. The Bitter ( कडवा )Taste - The bitter taste is good for everyone in medicinal quantities. It detoxifies the body, tones the organs, cleanses the liver and control skin ailments. This taste exist in all bitter food like turmeric, aloe vera, neem leaves, bitter gourd (karela), lettuce. 
6. The Astringent ( स्तंभक )Taste - As with bitter, the astringent taste is to be used medicinally. Astringency heals the body by its constrictive nature. It reduces secretion and is the most stark of the six tastes. Some examples of astringent foods are tannin, teas made from barks of trees, legumes. 

Include all six tastes of food in daily diet.