Asking which of two (kumpi)

When setting up a blind taste test (sokkotesti), you often need to compare samples:

In the blind test, we have a blindfold and two samples.
Sokkotestissä meillä on silmäside ja kaksi näytettä.

When asking someone to choose between exactly two options, Finnish uses the specific question word kumpi (which of the two). If there are three or more options, use mikä (what/which).

Which sample is better, the first or the second?
Kumpi näyte on parempi, ensimmäinen vai toinen?

Evaluating Flavors

You can pair kumpi directly with a noun, such as maku (flavor), or let it stand on its own as a pronoun.

Which flavor pleases you more?
Kumpi maku miellyttää sinua enemmän?
Which of the two is too bitter, this coffee or that tea?
Kumpi on liian katkeraa, tämä kahvi vai tuo tee?

Making Comparisons: "As ... As"

To state that two samples share the exact same quality—meaning one is "as [adjective] as" the other—Finnish uses the structure yhtä [adjective] kuin.

This apple is as tart as that one.
Tämä omena on yhtä kirpeä kuin tuo.
Is this tart flavor as good as that sweet one?
Onko tämä kirpeä maku yhtä hyvä kuin tuo makea?

The Jury's Verdict

When evaluating food, a jury (raati) looks at more than just taste; they also judge the texture (koostumus). You can combine these new nouns with kumpi to ask for final evaluations:

Which texture is better, and why does it please the jury?
Kumpi koostumus on parempi, ja miksi se miellyttää raatia?