Significance of ‘taste’ in the Holy Quran
“What we feel and think is to a great extent determined by the state of our ductless glands and viscera� (Huxley, A). This is the keenest observation. Have you ever seen anyone’s endoscopy on tape? It is amazing how our gut is one long tube starting at the mouth and ending in the anus. It is just one long tube. But what all we do for those minute taste buds at the gate of the gut!
Taste punishment and praise
It is “taste of the tree� that resulted in our origin (7:22). Taste is mentioned in various places in the Quran for both admonishment and praise. For instance, disbelievers are warned to “Taste therefore the chastisement because you disbelieved.� (3:106) and those who are proud of their wealth shall taste the “penalty of the Scorching Fire.� (3:181). Even death shall be tasted (“Every soul will taste of death�, 3.185). Believers are told that they will taste Allah’s “mercy� and “favour� (11:9 - 10)
Appealing to the Arab palate
Flavour and scent play important roles in the lives of Arabs who have special affinity to ‘musk’, incenses, perfumes, olives, and dates. In the Quran, there is mention of other food items all of which are particularly appealing to the Arab population, e.g., clean drinkable water was always good temptation for the desert dwellers of Arabia. Surah Al-Tin begins with ‘By the fig and the olive’ (Quran 095.001) with the fig referring to Jesus (pbuh) and olive referring to Muhammad (pbuh). Ayahs 83:25-26 mention that believers who shall enter Jennah will be rewarded with “Pure Wine� which will be sealed with “musk.�
Tasteful descriptions
Islamic theology and the Quran rely heavily on the sense of taste in laying down the laws of permissible consumables; attracting good Muslims towards piety essential for securing eternity in the tasty Heaven; and frightening the sinners from the probable pus-drinking flashforwards from sweltering Hell. The images of Heaven in Islam are rich in tasteful descriptions:
A similitude of the Garden which those who keep their duty (to Allah) are promised: Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavour changeth not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear- run honey (47:15).
Now as for those who have attained to righteousness- what of those who have attained to righteousness? [They too will find themselves] admist fruit-laden lote-trees, and acacias flower-clad, and shade extended, and waters gushing, and fruit abounding, never-failing and never out of reach (56:27-33).
Universality of Islam
Saudi Arabia and its neighbouring Gulf countries boast a thriving agriculture of dates and figs whereas grapes, olives, and pomegranates are Lebanese import. When the Quran was revealed foreign trade was a labourious affair and perhaps a more keen reading of the Quran would reveal how the people of Quraish were educated on the universality of Islam through the following ayahs where Allah asserts that He is not only the God of Arabia where dates grow but is the Master of the entire universe looking after the affairs of all parts of the world:
We bring forth the green blade from which We bring forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike (6:99).
With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought (16:11).
Conclusion
Taste keeps me hopeful of a sumptuous eternal life, and the irresistible smell of a newborn baby’s mouth and enticing taste of freshly brewed roasted give me hope that taste of the forbidden fruit did not utterly spoil matters after all. May Allah have mercy on us all and may He reward us from His bountiful treasures the sweet fruit of Jennah, ameen.
And for your dua… since 
