Different strokes for different folks. How our experience effects our taste

Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash

We all have different tastes. From the foods we eat to the things we like. However focusing specifically on food why do we like and dislike favourite foods. I mean it’s food right? Why should we dislike it? It all comes down to different factors not just one effects the taste of food! First let’s look at factors that effect food taste in our mouth.

Smell

Surprisingly our like and dislike of foods has little to do with taste and a lot with smell! When you’re eating the smell goes inside your nose and activates odor receptors. This primarily affects how food tastes. This process is called retronasal olfaction. This is different then sniffing your food. Well now that we know smell does something what else effects the taste of our food?

Tongue or not?

Although taste is normally associated with the tongue It doesn’t affect our taste as much as smell does in fact it most of our taste has nothing to do with it ! So even though the tougue is a no go there’s still more factors that effect our taste!

Tempreture

That’s right temperature effects your food. Have you ever had a chilling cup of ice or a hot soup. Well , this is because of temperature. The hotter or colder the temperature is that will affect the taste of the food.

Texture

As always the texture of the food we’re eating effects if the food is smooth in your mouth. Many of our foods have different textures . These textures effects how they feel in our mouth. A flat filled with nut on the outside chocolate could be bumpy in texture and in your mouth!

Why do we like/dislike foods

Now to the final question it comes down to our genetics , experience, and culture

Genetics – Depending on your genetics that could affect how you taste bitter foods. Another thing is how almost everyone has at least one scent they can’t smell . So some foods might smell Earthy because of this

Experience – The food your mother ate while pregnant and nursing can affect the foods you like in the future. Children can be introduced to foods even before their born.

Culture – Most of the time people don’t like very spicy and bitter foods. But if raised or in a environment where they are constantly exposed to these foods they can learn to like and want these foods

Now that you know some facts about how we taste food can you answer these questions?

What are some factors that effect taste?

Why do we like and dislike foods?
What are some question you have about the topic? (Post your question below and we will answer it)