Scientists don't completely understand how certain flavours and smells trigger memories.
Your gustatory system (sense of taste) works in tandem with your olfactory system (sense of smell) to encode memories in your brain, so that even into your golden years, just a taste of something can bring memories and feelings flooding back. Of course summertime sweets can send your brain into overdrive; the flavours match up with sunshine, holidays, and summer fun.
Let's count down our top picks.
5 Slushies/Slurpees Still a warm weather favourite, these convenience-store classics guarantee a brain freeze that is only equaled by the sugar rush that follows. Runner up: Mr. Freeze freezies.
4 Blizzard Not much can beat the creamy composition of softserve ice cream and your favourite candy bar or cookie bits. Runner up: Dilly Bars.
3 Ice Cream Truck treats Whether you go for the fruity red, white and blue of the Original Bomb Pop, the giant Fudgsicle, or something even wackier, nothing says summer like chasing down the musical truck in your wet bathing suit and bare feet.
2 Gelato Cold, creamy and depending where you get it, available in hundreds of made-fresh flavours.
1 S'mores For many of us, memories of the camping staple - graham cracker, toasty golden marshmallow, and milk chocolate - are forever entwined with the smell of campfire and citronella, a surprisingly alluring combination.
