This is an easy one to make for yourself and adds to the celebratory mood of traveling. Order a glass of something sparkling (the bubbles should help stimulate your taste buds) and top it up with some zesty orange juice – the acidity of the juice will help with the flavor.
Jalapeño Margarita
Ingredients: tequila, lime, jalapeños, sugar syrup
This cocktail involves slightly more prep, but it’s worth it. “Make it as spicy as you dare,” says Joy. The kick from the jalapeños should help your taste buds wake up with a hot kick. Obviously, for this one you’ll need to bring some jalapeños with you on the flight (take some out of a jar at home so there’s no liquid for security check) and on the flight, make a quick sugar syrup—ask the cabin crew for some sugar and mix with equal part water until dissolved. Pair it with umami-rich food, too. “Spices and bold flavors, such as curries or salty snacks, can provide a more satisfying eating experience whilst flying,” Joy explains.
Wasabi Martini
Ingredients: vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup, wasabi paste
Similarly, this one requires some extra effort, but it could seriously “help clear out your nasal passages”, according to Joy. “Spicy flavors, alongside sweet or acidic foods, can taste more pronounced,” Dr Thivi agrees. Wasabi is the trickier ingredient here, but many airports have sushi restaurants or takeaway spots where you can buy sachets or alternatively buy some to keep at home and pack a small dollop of paste into a container in your hand luggage.
Wine
Wine is always a good accompaniment with food, particularly when choosing food that could help overcome those muted taste buds. Joy tells us that “if you are trying to choose foods with complex and layered flavors, drinking wine allows for the nuances of these conditions to enhance the drinker’s enjoyment,” in the same way that it does on the ground. “Some airlines offer selected wines that are fruity with low acid and low tannin to allow for the changes that happen to the wines in the air, too,” she expands.
A glass of waterGetty Images
These are the best non-alcoholic drinks to order on a plane
“Since the effect of alcohol is enhanced at high altitudes, be mindful of drinks such as spirits with higher alcohol content,” Dr Thivi warns. “Light beers, wine and lower alcohol cocktails would be more mindful choices. More importantly, make sure to hydrate well to avoid the dehydration linked to alcohol intake. Look for low-alcohol alternatives made with soda water, enhanced with lemon or lime to help improve the flavor in the cabin environment,” she advises.
Marie agrees. “The most beneficial drink to have on a flight is plain water, but if you prefer something more flavorful, you could opt for beetroot juice, known to support the kidneys and improve circulation – a vital function when sitting still for extended periods during a flight,” she says. “Alternatively, bitter Grapefruit Juice can benefit the heart meridian, an essential pathway for the flow of vital energy (Qi) and blood,” plus the bitter taste could taste better than other drinks in mid-flight.
A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller.
