Time to try the palatant. I raise the cup to my nose. It has no smell. I roll some over my tongue. All five kinds of taste receptors stand idle. It tastes like water spiked with strange. Not bad, just other. Not food.
The excerpt describes the author’s experience of tasting a palatant, a substance designed to enhance flavor. When she raises the cup, she notes the absence of any aroma, suggesting it lacks the enticing qualities usually associated with food. This lack of smell contributes to her overall impression of the substance.