Does your cat "taste" his/her food before eating it?

 When I put a fresh can of food in my cat's bowl, she will "dip" the tip of her paw (or toes, actually) into the food, then lick her paw. Is she tasting the food before actually eating it? I know this isn't at all a serious problem. But, as a new cat Mom, I'm just curious about this.

My boy will sometimes dab with his paw and lick it off, but mostly he takes a test lick and thinks about if before scarfing the food

Yes, once in a while they do.  I think they are tasting it too.