Distribution of Non-tasters for Phenylthiocarbamide and High Sensitivity to Quinine Hydrochloride of the Non-tasters in Japanese

The percentage of non-tasters for phenylthiocarbamide in 915 Japanese students was 9.4%. The thresholds of the edge and back of the tongue to quinine hydrochloride were significantly smaller in the non-tasters than in the tasters. The thresholds of any tongue portions to NaCl, acetic acid or sucrose did not differ between the tasters and the non-tasters.