Tart vs. Sour — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 26, 2023
Tart is sharp, tangy taste, often pleasantly so. Sour is a taste resembling that of an acid or something spoiled.
Difference Between Tart and Sour
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tart and Sour are terms used to describe certain taste sensations. While Tart often refers to a sharp, but pleasantly tangy flavor, Sour is associated with a stronger acidic taste that might not always be pleasant.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Many fruits, like cherries or certain apples, can be described as Tart, indicating they have a pronounced flavor without the overbearing acidity. On the other hand, a lemon or vinegar possesses a Sour taste, denoting a stronger, more intense acidic flavor.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Though Tart and Sour can sometimes be used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference in their intensity. Tart can be considered milder, often implying a balanced mix of sweet and tangy, while Sour leans more towards a pure acidic sensation.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Definitions
Tart
A flavor profile in certain wines or gourmet foods.
The wine had a Tart finish that complemented the meal.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Sour
A descriptor for fermented products.
Sour cream adds richness to many dishes.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
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Tart
A pastry filled with fruit or custard.
She ordered a strawberry Tart for dessert.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Sour
Feeling or showing resentment.
He had a Sour expression after the argument.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Tart
A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes with custard.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Strongly acidic in nature.
The Sour taste of the lemon made her pucker her lips.v
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Sour
Having a taste characteristic of that produced by acids; sharp, tart, or tangy.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Tart
A pastry shell with shallow sides, no top crust, and any of various fillings.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Having the characteristics of fermentation or rancidity; tasting or smelling of decay.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Displeased with something one formerly admired or liked; disenchanted
Sour on ballet.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Not measuring up to the expected or usual ability or quality; bad
A sour performance of the play.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Containing excessive levels of sulfur compounds, carbon dioxide, or both. Used of oil and natural gas.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Tart
A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
A mixed drink made especially with whiskey, lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes soda water.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Made rancid by fermentation, etc.
Don't drink that milk; it's turned sour.
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Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Tasting or smelling rancid.
His sour breath makes it unpleasing to talk to him.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Tart
Fig.: Sharp; keen; severe; as, a tart reply; tart language; a tart rebuke.
Why art thou tart, my brother?
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Tart
A species of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Tart
An adjective describing a sassy or bold manner.
Her Tart response caught everyone off guard.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Tart
Slightly acidic but mainly tangy in flavor.
The sauce had a Tart undertone that brightened the dish.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Sour
(intransitive) To become disenchanted.
We broke up after our relationship soured.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
(transitive) To process (fabric) after bleaching, using hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid to wash out the lime.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Having an acid or sharp, biting taste, like vinegar, and the juices of most unripe fruits; acid; tart.
All sour things, as vinegar, provoke appetite.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Disagreeable; unpleasant; hence; cross; crabbed; peevish; morose; as, a man of a sour temper; a sour reply.
He was a scholar . . . Lofty and sour to them that loved him not,But to those men that sought him sweet as summer.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
To cause to become sour; to cause to turn from sweet to sour; as, exposure to the air sours many substances.
So the sun's heat, with different powers,Ripens the grape, the liquor sours.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
To make unhappy, uneasy, or less agreeable.
To sour your happiness I must report,The queen is dead.
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Nov 22, 2018
Sour
To cause or permit to become harsh or unkindly.
Pride had not sour'd nor wrath debased my heart.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
To macerate, and render fit for plaster or mortar; as, to sour lime for business purposes.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
To become sour; to turn from sweet to sour; as, milk soon sours in hot weather; a kind temper sometimes sours in adversity.
They keep out melancholy from the virtuous, and hinder the hatred of vice from souring into severity.
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
A cocktail made of a liquor (especially whiskey or gin) mixed with lemon or lime juice and sugar
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
The taste experience when vinegar or lemon juice is taken into the mouth
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Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Go sour or spoil;
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
One of the four basic taste sensations; like the taste of vinegar or lemons
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Nov 22, 2018
Sour
Showing a brooding ill humor;
A dark scowl
The proverbially dour New England Puritan
A glum, hopeless shrug
He sat in moody silence
A morose and unsociable manner
A saturnine, almost misanthropic young genius
A sour temper
A sullen crowd
Fiza Rafique
Nov 22, 2018
Sour
A taste resembling acid or something spoiled.
The milk had gone Sour and was undrinkable.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Sour
Something that has turned bad or gone off.
The deal went Sour at the last minute.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
FAQs
What foods are typically described as Tart?
Cherries, certain apples, and many pastries have a Tart flavor.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Can Tart and Sour be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but there's a subtle difference in intensity and pleasantness.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
What does Tart mean in terms of flavor?
Tart refers to a sharp but often pleasantly tangy flavor.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Are Sour flavors always undesirable?
No, Sour flavors can add depth or a kick to many dishes.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Do all fermented foods taste Sour?
Many do, like yogurt and kimchi, but not all fermented foods are Sour.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Can a food be both Tart and Sour?
Yes, some foods might exhibit both flavor profiles.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Is Tartness always a pleasant taste?
Often it is, but taste is subjective and can vary from person to person.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
What can cause a food to become Sour?
Bacterial action, fermentation, or spoilage can lead to a Sour taste.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
How can I reduce the Sourness of a dish?
Adding sweet ingredients or diluting the dish can help balance the flavor.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
How does Sour differ from Tart in taste?
Sour has a stronger, more intense acidic taste, while Tart is milder.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
How is the term Tart used outside of food?
It can describe a sassy or bold manner in speech or behavior.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Are there any health benefits to Tart or Sour foods?
Some believe that they can aid in digestion and provide other benefits.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Is a Sour expression related to the taste?
No, a Sour expression refers to showing displeasure or resentment.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
What does it mean if a beverage is Tart?
It has a sharp but balanced tanginess, often found in wines or certain juices.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Is Tartness a desired flavor in gourmet foods?
Yes, Tartness can be perceived as a refined or delicate flavor in certain gourmet dishes or wines.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 26, 2023
Author Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content editor at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
