Acidulation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The technique involving the addition of acidic components to change the taste or properties of a substance is widely recognized in culinary practices
2. The act of introducing acid to a mixture or substance to alter its acidity or flavor
3. A procedure that involves treating something with acid to change its chemical or sensory properties

Etymology: Its core is a Latin adjective, "acidulus," meaning "slightly sour." That word is a diminutive of "acidus," sour, from the verb "acere," to be sour. The little suffix is the key: an acidulated thing is made a little sour, not fully acid. "Acetum," the Latin word for vinegar, comes from the same root, so vinegar and this term share an ancestor. English built "acidulate" from the Latin adjective, and "acidulation" adds the noun ending "-ation," which turns an action into a noun. Culinary writers use it for adding a sour element such as lemon juice or vinegar to shift flavour or chemistry. The process is named after the result it aims for, a mild sourness rather than an overwhelming one.

Synonyms: sourness, tartness, acidity, sharpness, sting

Antonyms: sweetness, mellowness, smoothness, blandness, neutrality