Q:

Why does melted asiago impart a strong numbing mouthfeel?

I've put asiago in a couple dishes as of late (mac and cheese as well as a risotto) and always tend to get a strong taste accompanied by an almost ... numbing sensation in the mouth. Is this normal of asiago?

A:

Perhaps you are experiencing and allergic reaction.
I got a numb palate and lips from eating sourdough with generous flour on the outside, never had that before. On googling this, it seems it's a form of intolerance. Dry flour baked on a loaf is not the usual way to ingest wheat, and there was a lot of it! Glutens and gliadins in wheat, casein in milk products as well as many other proteins can react with sensitive skin like the mouth.

