Which are the tastes identified by the human tongue?

The human tongue can identify four tastes - sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Sweet is when some sugary items are eaten. These provide energy to the body for various functions. Salty is when the tongue identifies sodium chloride present in salt. It is essential to regulate water and ion concentration in the intestine. Sour signifies the presence of acids like citrus acid in our food. Bitter helps to identify poisonous substances to a great extent. Other than the four basic tastes, umami was identified as the fifth taste and is gaining importance. It is considered an indicator of protein, which is vital for the body.