Back in the day, I was a big fan of tropical fruits and, as you probably guessed, durian was at the top of my list of desires. I’d read a lot about its incredible taste and even more incredible smell. And so, after several years of dreaming, in 2018 I went to China and there, at some street diner in Guangzhou, I finally tried it… What can I tell you? Really tasty, but the absolutely hellish smell completely discouraged me not only from the taste, but also from further fascination with this kind of fruit.
In fact, there are now over 7 billion people in the world, and about the same number of taste preferences in food. What is an undoubted delicacy for many can literally turn others inside out just with its taste. And here is a special selection by We based on a viral thread in the AskReddit community dedicated to just such foods, meals and drinks…
More info: Reddit
#1
Black licorice. I’ve accepted my DNA just can’t stand the stuff.
#2
Intestines/innards of any kind and solid portions of fat on meat. One of my husband’s favorite dishes is barbequed intestines (Japanese barbecue) and I can smell its appeal, but I physically can’t deal with the texture. And it really saddens me because I’ve always wanted to eat menudo and I know the soup is bomb AF 😭. I think I have some sort of fat/chewy PTSD from when I was forced to eat gristle off of meat as a kid.
#3
Liver the smell alone makes me sick.
Let’s start, perhaps, with the main question – why do people generally differ in their taste preferences in food? Here the answer, as usual, is quite simple – it’s in our genome. In 2004, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, showed, for example, that our smell receptors are associated with a part of the genome that has a higher number of variations than the rest of the DNA.
And the more variations, the more differences in taste. So, literally the same steak will be perceived by two different people in completely different ways. Simply because they have different perceptions of taste at the biological level.
#4
Raw oysters.
#5
Tripe
#6
Matcha ! Just tastes like grass to me
Initially, this feature helped people survive. A classic example is why the vast majority of people don’t like bitter tastes. The thing is that for ancient people, this taste was strongly associated with the presence of toxins in food, and therefore such food had to be spat out quickly, or even better, not eaten at all. Thousands and thousands of years have passed since then, humanity has come a long way in development, but the ancient protective mechanism remains.
And, of course, the psychological factor plays a huge role in our taste perception of food. For example, if we were taught from childhood that some dish is tasteless or even disgusting, then dislike for it can spread into adulthood. Or, let’s say, we once had a bad experience with some vegetable or fruit (like, for example, I had with durian). But overcoming such food prejudice can sometimes be very difficult.
#7
Beer, of any kind. It always makes me very nauseous.
#8
Overnight oats. They’re basically lumpy, cold snot in my throat first thing in the morning. I gag just thinking about adding chia seeds.
#9
Most definitely Brussel Sprouts. I’ve tried them in so many forms and yet I still hate them.
On the other hand, our culinary preferences are quite flexible – and once we try something delicious, we stick to it for the long run. In any case, all the factors that influence our perception of food can be divided into three groups: innate taste preferences, which are determined by human evolution, the physical characteristics of food (texture, temperature and whatnot) and our previous experience of interacting with this taste (or smell – sorry, I’m reminiscing about that very durian over and over…)
#10
Kombucha, smells like stinky feet and taste like vinegar to me.
#11
Blue cheeses
#12
I know this is a drink, but sparkling water. I like some flavors, but I can’t stand that after taste. Bleh
Perhaps some of the stories told by people in this selection will seem absolutely strange and weird to you. On the contrary, you will completely agree with some. In any case, please feel free to scroll this list to the very end, give your ‘likes’ to the most interesting submissions and for sure share your own experience of interacting with some foods or drinks. Maybe your special story will be no less tasty and delicious than the most popular meals ever!
#13
Octopus.
The texture just isn’t for me. I want to like it. The flavor is fine, just can’t get over the chewing experience.
#14
Chitlins
#15
Lamb. I tried… really
#16
Peeps, the Easter sugared candy. I like to think I can digest anything covered in sugar BUT NOT THAT….
#17
okra. liver and onions.
#18
Wine. Every year I’ll try it around the holidays with family and it’s still gross
#19
Caviar .
The salty /fishy /cold/ bubble tea texture combo makes me retch . Smoked salmon too – I’m a terrible one for cold fishy amuse-bouche.
Olives. I’ve tried many varieties. I always try them because they look like they’d be good but they’re just not.
#21
IPAs and stouts.
#22
Beets. I just can’t.
#23
I can’t drink egg nog. Every year I give it a shot and try to like it, but I just can’t.
#24
Tofu. I’m trying to be more health conscious and environmentally friendly with my eating habits. I’ve tried tofu several different ways, but haven;t found a flavor/style I like enough to keep eating.
#25
Celery
#26
Spicy food. Never have been able to eat it.
#27
Eggplant!
#28
Pea soup, just can’t
#29
Durian.
I went to a restaurant that served all the types of durian on a platter, all the way up to musang king. Hated every bite.
My fellow Asians judge me for hating it, but I refuse to be shamed. My American palate won’t let me like it.
There’s a reason they’re banned on public transport in Asia.
#30
Sweet potatoes