Background <p>The chorda tympani nerve (CTN) carries taste sensation from the anterior 2/3rd of the tongue on the ipsilateral side. Alteration in taste sensation can concern the patients following middle ear surgeries due to chorda tympani nerve (CTN) injury. Hence, we aim to assess the taste sensation before and after middle ear surgery, considering varying degrees of trauma to the chorda tympani nerve (CTN) during the procedure, using a test suitable for clinical routine.</p> Methods <p>This prospective study was conducted on 100 patients who underwent middle ear cleft surgery for chronic otitis media (COM). Gustatory testing was performed using four taste solutions, each at three different concentrations, and the responses were scored from 0 to 3. Based on the level of manipulation of the chorda tympani nerve (CTN) during surgery, the patients were classified into three groups: minor touch, stretch injury, and severed CTN.</p> Results <p>Data analysis was done using the median, sum of ranks, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Minor manipulation of the chorda tympani nerve (CTN) showed no significant changes in taste perception after three months. In cases of stretched CTN, all four taste sensations significantly decreased by the third week. By three months, improvements were noted in salt, sugar, and sour sensations, with salt improvement showing statistical significance (p = 0.045). Following complete sectioning of the CTN, all taste perceptions decreased at three months, with only salt perception showing a significant reduction (p = 0.034).</p> Conclusion <p>Our study highlights a noteworthy prevalence of taste alterations following middle ear surgery, especially a significant decline in salt perception in patients with a severed chorda tympani nerve. This change may last over three months; however, the gustatory function generally improves post-surgery.</p>