A professional food taster, also known as a taster or cupboard, is someone whose job is to try different wines, teas, or other foods or beverages to check their quality. This is usually done for important people, such as monarchs or those under threat of harm. Food tasters are responsible for ensuring that the food is safe to eat. Epicureans, gourmets, sweet tooths, and gastronomes are all people who enjoy eating and drinking.
Epicureanism involves meticulousness and voluptuousness of taste. Gourmets are connoisseurs of food and drink who demand the highest quality. Gourmands have an abundant appetite for good food and drink, but with less discernment than gourmets. Gastronomes have studied the history and rituals of haute cuisine in depth.
Informally, these people may be referred to as taste evaluators or sensory testers. However, their role goes beyond simply tasting food. For example, the Roman emperor Claudius hired a food taster named Halotus to protect him from poisoning in 54 AD.
