Taste is an important sense by which human beings and animals detect many chemicals in their environment. In the body, specialized skin cells that detect taste are grouped into clusters called taste buds. They are found primarily on the tongue, contained within small mounds called papillae. Taste buds also are present on the soft palate (back of the roof of the mouth) and other parts of the mouth and throat. The word taste refers to the quality of a substance that is detected by the taste buds. Taste is a component of flavor, which also includes smell, touch, and temperature sensations.