On their own both pepper and salt can be used in savory and sweet cooking—and in combination they can convert something bland into something wonderful.

The scent of that crispy brown turkey, fluffy mashed potatoes, savory stuffing, and assorted vegetables made my mouth water.

Our mouths and tongues have taste buds, which are receptors for the five basic flavors: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami, or what is more commonly referred to as savory.