If one flavor balances another flavor, it means that it counteracts or compensates for that flavor to achieve an even more harmonious flavor. For example, spices balance the sweet and the sweet balance the spices. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami are five gustatory elements that build our general perception of flavor. When each element is perfectly balanced, not just on the plate, but in an entire meal, the dining experience goes further.
Balance is the synchronized stimulation of basic flavor profiles at a concentration that does not exceed the taste receptors. The basic flavor profiles are sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami.
