Piquant, Zingy, and ZESTY are all adjectives used to describe food that has a strong, spicy flavor. Piquant is a French word meaning 'STINGING' or 'pricking, ' while Zingy is an informal term used to describe food that has a sharp, tangy taste. ZESTY is a more general term that can be used to describe food that has a lively, exciting flavor. All three words can be used to describe food that has a strong, spicy flavor.