Science glossary film: Amylase

An important digestive enzyme which breaks down starch into sugar. It's produced mostly in the pancreas and released into the small intestine, but is also made by the salivary glands in the mouth. This means starchy foods can taste slightly sweet, as sugar's produced during chewing.

It's produced mostly in the pancreas and released into the small intestine, but is also made by the salivary glands in the mouth. This means starchy foods can taste slightly sweet, as sugar's produced during chewing.