Juicy, fatty, stable, pleasing to the heart — such foods are appreciated by the sāttvika. Those of rajas prefer bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry.

Sāttvika foods: rasyāḥ (tasty, with juice), snigdhāḥ (fatty/unctuous, not dry), sthirāḥ (stable, lasting), hṛdyāḥ (pleasing to the heart).

Rājasika foods: bitter, sour, salty, very hot (uṣṇa), pungent (tīkṣṇa), dry (rūkṣa). They stimulate but agitate. Intense flavors predominate that excite the senses.