You know how much I like finding odd and unique taxonomies. I find it a little humorous and comforting to know that taxonomies exist in all parts of our lives, not just information science or biology.
Today’s gem is for all those taxonomists who have a sweet tooth – or maybe I should say sour tooth? Sour candies, like many things, exist along a spectrum. It doesn’t fit neatly into a category like chocolate does. When it comes to this most assertive family of candies, sour is in the taste bud of the beholder…err, be-eater?
This approach to classification asks the questions: What flavors can you detect beyond that initial acidic shock? How much of this extreme tasting sport can you physically tolerate? Most importantly and scientifically of all: Which sour candies are the tastiest and most fun to eat?
Well, one very creative and interesting person put together a taxonomy of sorts to help answer that question, depending on your preferences. Comprehensively classifying various sour candies into the four quadrants below, these are pucker equivalents to the Scoville Hot Sauce scale. From the sweet spot of the sour to the point where you feel like a vacuum has sucked your jaws inward to never be released again.
Do you have a favorite on the list? Or maybe you can discover a new favorite based on what quadrant your taste buds prefer to experience.
While this is not a true taxonomy, it is a good representation of how everything in our lives can be classified based on established parameters. Visualization of the data provides a different perspective as well.
When it comes to classifying anything – insects, fruit, diseases or candy – it is important to remember the value of a solid taxonomy and its role in the search process. How the content is classified impacts the findability of your data. It isn’t a cookie cutter process. Choose the right partner in technology, especially when your content is in their hands. Access Innovations is known as a leader in database production, standards development, and creating and applying taxonomies.
Original diagram taken from “The Takeout” : https://thetakeout.com/a-formal-taxonomy-of-sour-candies-1836135852
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.
