Brighter shades of blue, such as Aqua, Royal, and Ultramarine Blue, are associated with increased thirst. This is because these colors evoke a sense of coolness and cleanliness, often associated with water and hydration. While warm colors like red and yellow stimulate hunger, certain blues create a psychological response leading to a desire for a refreshing drink.
The Psychology of Color and Thirst
Several factors contribute to the perception of thirst related to color:
-
Association with Water: Blue is often associated with vast bodies of water, lakes, and oceans. This subconscious connection triggers a thirst response, even if the blue color is not directly related to a beverage. The article "The Effect of Glass Colour on the Evaluation of a Beverage's Thirst Quenching Properties" confirms that blue was associated with the most thirst-quenching beverage in many cases.
-
Perceived Temperature: Cooler colors like blue are often perceived as refreshing, leading to a subconscious association with quenching thirst. This contrasts with warm colors like red, which can be associated with increased temperature and subsequently, thirst. The Drink Labs blog post explains that red, linked to increased temperature and blood pressure, can increase thirst.
-
Cleanliness and Purity: The color blue is frequently used to represent purity and cleanliness. This association can contribute to the perception of a drink as hydrating and thirst-quenching, influencing the desire to drink. This perspective is discussed in the Reddit thread on the association between blue and the feeling of refreshment.
Other Colors and Thirst
While blue is strongly linked to thirst in certain shades, other colors might indirectly influence thirst perception:
-
Red: Associated with heat and increased blood pressure, potentially leading to increased thirst as noted in the Drink Labs blog.
-
Green: Often used in marketing to suggest natural ingredients, which may not directly cause thirst but can influence beverage choice. This is mentioned in the Forty8Creates article.
It's important to remember that the effect of color on thirst is primarily psychological. The actual hydration properties of a beverage are determined by its contents, not its color.
