like bland food? don't like bitter? you may be a Supertaster

[Connie Brown]

Just an interesting FYI.

Over lunch at the Albuquerque seminar the issue of liking bland food came up. This is me (i have been teased as having the sophisticated palate of a 10-year-old.)

There is a scientific reason: some of us are supertasters. (ha! I knew it!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/senses/supertaster.shtml

Why do we care?

a) don't take no guff - walk proud, we are special

b) this can make it hard to get the vegetables in. I roast mine because it helps moderate the bitter taste. and if I have to have those greens that look like weeds I disguise them in a bigger salad or stir-fry.

[James Boelter]

This goes hand in hand with the Minnesotan/Lutheran/Scandinavia/Shanty Irish cuisine I was raised on. You know the one - cream of mushroom soup is the foundation of every casserole and hot dish, with bars and Jello for dessert.

There was a hilarious book , 'Scandinavian Humor' which detailed why us Midwestern White People tend to avoid 'food that hurts'. I still vividly remember my first meal of actual Chinese food that had some ginger and red pepper in it (as opposed to the Chun King canned stuff we would get when the parents wanted something 'exotic'). I can still remember my astonishment and delight that a plate of food would set my tongue on fire and make my face turn red.

[Randell Waddell]

My neurones are firing but can't grasp the particular facts desired.

Are not a lot of the poisons in seeds / fruits that are poisonous associated with bitter tastes???

Is this also why some people affirm that this is why the bitter taste buds are at the back of the tongue - as in to give the final ok to food after chewing it - before one swallows a potentially poisonous mixture ????

Anyone else ?????

Cheers
Randell :D