What Does Magic Taste Like?

[Nil Lintemacil]

My wife and I often write prose to go along with our characters at the game table. We've been working on our character's backstories told in prose for some time now, but we also like to write out the action that comes up in our session. Right now, she's doing both, writing backstory as twisted flashbacks her character experiences while she's fighting for her life because she got stabbed by an assassin.

The last part she's writing is waking up under the ministrations of a healer and she's trying to describe a healing potion's aftertaste. She's got a good idea for the physical potion, a home remedy from the real world, but the potion has to have something different because it's infused with magic, which leads to a question I've wondered before: What does magic taste like?

This extends beyond the potion question, though. Do casters taste something when they cast spells? Does divine magic taste different than arcane, evocation than necromancy?

Certainly not important from a rules or play standpoint, but we like story and fluff. So what do you think it tastes like? For the record, she's describing the healing potion as having "the sweet taste of honey and the heat of exotic peppers with the strange, indefinable fuzzy feeling and peachy aftertaste she had grown to associate with healing magic."

[Artanthos]

My spells taste like cinnamon, with a hint of nutmeg.

[Duncan7291]

Isnt that a very personal question? I dont go around asking what you taste like. :) I normally taste excellence that springs eternal from my tiger blood and mojo DNA.

[Puna'chong]

Well, I remember the old 3.0 D&D books (the T.H. Lain pseudonym ones) had some descriptions of what healing felt like. So when the fighter was healed by the cleric it felt warm but impersonal, like a blessing from a priest should. From the druid, though, the magic was intensely personal and he felt some aspects of the person in the magic.

I suppose taste can have that same sort of thing. Is it a mass-produced potion, and have a sort of saccharine or bland taste like a Coke? Or is it a craft-beer lovingly made in small batches by a professional alchemist? I'd think healing potions would probably in a lot of ways taste like Christmas, or home, or something relaxing like that. Alternatively, they could taste like strong rubbing alcohol or cough syrup...

[Ivan Rûski]

Jack Daniel's

[cnetarian]

I'm with artanthos, my spells taste like cinnamon (and you really do not want to know about the ones that taste like burnt cinnamon). As for potions it depends on the potion maker, I find that wizard potions have a metallic aftertaste while cleric potions have a sort of greasiness to them (rancid greasiness for clerics who I suspect might not be entirely on the good side of the alignment chart) and druidic potions usually have a minty taste.

[DominusMegadeus]

Purple.

[lucky7]

Maple Sugar candy.

[Tin Foil Yamakah]

Hmmm..Depends on the school, but they are all carbonated

[lemeres]

When you actually think about it, isn't Detect Magic more like magical smell-o-vision?

Unless you spend time concentrating on it, you can't really tell too many definite details, and it is easier to find when it is fresh and comes from a strong source. Heck, the fact that spells leave a 'lingering' aura just seems to seal the deal for me.

Anyway, I am going to say salt in vinegar, being rather overwhelming and caustic to the senses, yet carrying important chemicals for your body.

Alchemists for life.

[Zhayne]

I have never imagined magic tasting like anything.

[Create Mr. Pitt]

I wouldn't recommend my stinking cloud, but my prismatic spray, surprisingly delicious.

[Darigaaz the Igniter]

Frickin laser beams

[Kayerloth]

Duh, Chicken of course.

Then you use Prestidigitation and it tastes however you wish it to taste.

Or perhaps one should redirect this to a wizard lacking one or more senses other than taste obviously.

[Third Mind]

The color 7.

[Owly]

It tastes like burning.

[Kyrrion]

Magic varies greatly, so why shouldn't its flavor? No two spells are the same, neither are the casters. The flavor of magic should be a combination between the caster's personality, the type of magic (arcane/divine, then and descriptors + effect of the spell itself), and potency (caster level).

I can well imagine a potion of cure light wounds brewed by a chaotic bard would be much akin to an alcoholic beverage while a studious lawful wizard's might bring the taste of steamed vegetables (in terms of flavor derived from the magic).

Have fun with it.

[Owly]

In our Kingmaker campaign (which we just wrapped up) I had taken Brew Potion. I was constantly telling everyone what the potions they were drinking tasted like. I'm all about the immersion.

Enlarge- chocolate milk
Spider Climb- cotton candy
Displacement - licorice

[Starbuck_II]

Teen Spirit. And B.O.

[Symar]

It tastes like pure, absolute power, and gives an amazing rush. Seasonings vary based on spell and caster.

[In My Humble Opinion]

Magic tastes like the color brown, mostly.

[Starbuck_II]

In My Humble Opinion wrote:

Magic tastes like the color brown, mostly.

I wasn't aware brown became a flavor. I know Blue is. But not brown.

[silverhair2008]

May I suggest check this out?

[Black Feather]

...victory...

(I had to say it)

[Geflin Graysoul]

Purple. Magic definitely takes like purple.

[boring7]

You know that sensation that's not quite a taste you get when your mouth is dry and there's electricity in the air? That sensation on your tongue after you stick it on a 9-volt battery?

A healing potion tastes like that and booze, the booze is meant to mask the first flavor, badly.

[Hawktitan]

We have some League of Legends players here I see.

+1 for purple.

[Gwaihir Scout]

Color Spray tastes like Skittles.

[BretI]

Depends on who you get it from.

If a half-orc or human made it, it probably has a gritty texture and tastes like caster oil or something of that ilk. They tend to believe the worse it tastes, the better it works.

Always buy your healing potions from halflings or gnomes. The ones from halflings will taste good, and the ones from gnomes will never taste the same way twice.

Oh, and elven ones taste of trees and olive oil with just a hint of clove.

[Sauce987654321]

Sunny D

[The Human Diversion]

So many full of win answers here.

If it's from my cleric of Calistria, it tastes like a candy-coated jalapeno pepper with a very bitter aftertaste.

If it's from my arcane trickster it tastes like crunchy frog or spring surprise.

If it's from my Elven wizard it tastes like a fine roast quail, garnished with the most delicate of herbs, perhaps with a stronger hint of rosemary, with a side of tart blueberry reduction over a bed of coconut milk rice pilaf, all washed down with the finest wine in stock.

[LazarX]

It depends on how you envision it. There is no "official" answer to the question.

In the Warcraft world view, the act of casting arcane magic brings with it a rush, which is why doing so can become addictive and corruptive. It's a heady feeling after all making the universe itself conform to your will.

If you're looking for an answer with a real world parallel, look up the sensations accompanied with various types of rushes, from drug induced, to coital.