Why is this the answer?

The answer is salt because this clever riddle uses strong words to describe an ingredient we all use every day to make our food taste extra yummy. This riddle is a fantastic example of a word puzzle that makes you think about an ordinary thing in a brand new way. Let us look closely at all the clues one by one. The first clue says, "What can burn the eyes." Imagine playing in the ocean on a sunny day. If you have ever gotten salty ocean water splashed into your eyes, you know it can really sting! That sharp, uncomfortable feeling comes from the tiny salt crystals dissolved in the water. Even a small piece of salt dust or getting salty sweat into your eye while playing can feel like a small burn, which is why your instinct is to quickly rinse it out. Next, the riddle asks what can "sting the mouth." While we love the taste of salt on our food, think about what happens if you try to eat too much plain salt all at once, like licking a tiny pile right off your hand. It is very strong! That intense, sharp, and sometimes painful feeling on your tongue is the "sting" the riddle is talking about. The flavor is so strong it almost hurts. This is why we are careful to only add a little pinch of salt when we cook. Finally, the riddle gives the clue, "yet be consumed." This simply means something that we eat. We consume salt every single day! We sprinkle it on popcorn, it is baked into pretzels and chips, and it is a key part of making almost every dinner meal taste just right. In fact, our amazing bodies actually need a small amount of salt to work properly and stay healthy. Without salt, a lot of our favorite foods would taste dull and boring. Salt is tricky because it is so strong on its own, but when used just right, it is a key ingredient for cooking and for life, making it the perfect answer to this clever puzzle.