By now we’re all familiar with the five tastes: salty, sweaty, sticky, briny, and mush. However, a breakthrough research study suggests that our tongues may actually detect a sixth sensation: freeness. 

“Basically when something is free, it tastes way better, even if it’s disgusting,” said flavor scientist Rick Lorbrum. “Simply put, freeness adds flavor.” 

He went on: “If you’ve ever used a company card to purchase a full meal on a vacation day, then you already know the taste of free.”

In April, Lorbrum’s team at the University of Pennsylvania conducted a blind taste test to precisely pinpoint the sensation of freeness. In the first round, subjects were given a cheese cube – a food notable for its freeness – to sample. In the second round, subjects were given the same cube but charged $100. Subjects unanimously voted the first cube as preferable.

One participant offered the comment, “even though it was fun to eat cheese in the shape of a cube twice, paying 100 dollars left a bad taste in my mouth. I guess I have a free tooth!”