尝 means 'to taste' food or drink — using your tongue to sample a flavor. It can also mean 'to experience' a feeling firsthand (e.g., 尝到成功的甜头 'taste the sweetness of success'). Compare 试 (shì): 试 means 'to try' an action or test something, not necessarily with your mouth (e.g., 试衣服 'try on clothes'). For more formal or deliberate tasting (like wine tasting), use 品尝 (pǐn cháng).