"Acquired Taste"

[Meat-Head]

Random Thought: Does anyone else have a problem with the concept of "acquired taste", especially with regard to food?

Let me get this straight. The first time you ever tasted this food/drink it was exactly as disgusting to you as it is to me right this moment. But then, inexplicably and against all natural tendencies, you chose to continue to consume this thing in order to force your taste buds to accept it??!

It begs the question: Why stop with say beer, or black coffee, or raw oysters? Shouldn't you go on to other unconventional fare such as dirt, mold, or cowpies? I'm sure you could acquire a taste for those.

"Yeah, the first time I ever ate a bowl of anaconda blood I naturally wanted to retch. But then I was like, ya know what? I can do this."


I refuse to believe I'm the only one who thinks this way.

[Symar-FangofLloth]

It doesn't make sense with foods, for sure.

[Illiain]

I think it's something along the lines of society says this is good, so therefore I'm either flawed for not liking it, or I'm not trying hard enough. And like good little herd animals, we go right ahead and continue to do something stupid until we like it (read: get used to the suck).

When I first tried beer, I thought it was nasty. Many years later, after trying a microbrew, I discovered that the problem was the beer I drank originally (Spudwiper) and that a good strong microbrew or import were very tasty.

To this day I can't stand wine. It tastes like moldy grapes. I have a lot of friends that insist that this or that wine are very high quality, and yet I can't see past what my tongue says. More wine for you, I'll keep my tasty strong bitter microbrews.

[Bodic]

I have alwas liked my sushi squid and eel being my favorites octopus was not a love at first taste, but it was still good

now Snail /grab trash can never will I try them

[stille_nacht]

yeah.... people keep telling me that beer is an "acquired taste", and i usually respond with "why do i have to pay money for something that is disgusting?" and "why should i acquire it anyway?"

[Impaqt]

Its generally not the taste that makes people dislike certain foods. Its the preconceived notion that eating raw Fish, or monkey brains is "Disgusting". so its actually pretty easy to retain yourself to "Like" these things the more often you try them. Its about breaking down the mental block.. Not necessarily the actual "taste"

[Meat-Head]

Its generally not the taste that makes people dislike certain foods. Its the preconceived notion that eating raw Fish, or monkey brains is "Disgusting". so its actually pretty easy to retain yourself to "Like" these things the more often you try them. Its about breaking down the mental block.. Not necessarily the actual "taste"

Dude, you might swear to me that dog rectum tastes like cheese cake. I ain't gonna try it. Some things really ARE disgusting.

[KillEveryone]

Blue Cheese was a slightly acquired taste for me. It has a wonderful tang but it is quite strong. I love the smell but at first, it was hard for me to just consume. It was something that I wanted to eat though, because I love the smell of it when it is cooked into something but there are also times that I want something with a nice tang but don't want it to be spicy.

Onion is another. Didn't like them much as a kid but I love them now. The smell, the taste, the French Onion soup with a nice melty cheese and crusty bread. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

I didn't have much trouble with beer. Some I like, others I don't.

I can't get past the oyster being raw. I don't like the idea of raw critter. I don't care much for the texture either but it is mostly the idea that the critter was raw. I won't eat steak tartar either. I have no problems with medium rare critter, I can deal with some rareness but don't care for it to still moo.

In some cases it is easier to acquire the taste. It makes it easier to go out to eat and allows for a wider variety of foods. I've known some people that don't like this or that and going out to eat is a real PITA because they are so freaky picky. They don't like trying new restaurants because they don't know the menu, they ask for all kinds of modifications to food because they don't like a lot of stuff, and they just don't care to try new foods because they didn't acquire the taste for it.

[chak]

I never had to aquire a taste for beer.To me the only bad beers an empty beer.

[cdemeritt]

Its generally not the taste that makes people dislike certain foods. Its the preconceived notion that eating raw Fish, or monkey brains is "Disgusting". so its actually pretty easy to retain yourself to "Like" these things the more often you try them. Its about breaking down the mental block.. Not necessarily the actual "taste"

^This.

Actually this can be applied to many non-food related issues as well... people often get pre-conceived notions about something, whether it comes from family, friends, culture, or other.... Sometimes things we perceive as disgusting, might not be.

[FrozenNova]

Think of the opposite.
It's not hard to start off being quite fond of something, then quickly grow an increasing dislike until you end up with 5 of them sitting at the back of your fridge destined to go nowhere. Given this, I see no reason why 'acquired taste' is so nonsensical.

[Impaqt]

Dude, you might swear to me that dog rectum tastes like cheese cake. I ain't gonna try it. Some things really ARE disgusting.

If someone is trying to get you to eat dog rectum, they are screwing with you.

[SableShadow]

A lot of "ewwwwww" is more cultural than taste bud.

[Meat-Head]

If someone is trying to get you to eat dog rectum, they are screwing with you.

I have to disagree. I'm into faithful monogamy, and my wife has never tried to get me to eat dog rectum.

[Bozone]

I agree with this:

Its generally not the taste that makes people dislike certain foods. Its the preconceived notion that eating raw Fish, or monkey brains is "Disgusting". so its actually pretty easy to retain yourself to "Like" these things the more often you try them. Its about breaking down the mental block.. Not necessarily the actual "taste"

I've known a number of people that either were not told what they were eating or didn't know what rocky mountain oysters were, and really liked them. Then when they found out what they were eating, they suddenly decided they didn't like it.

I also agree with this:

I never had to aquire a taste for beer.To me the only bad beers an empty beer.

[sirdanile]

If someone is trying to get you to eat dog rectum, they are screwing with you.

Fer starters where in the world did they GET that rectum...

[SableShadow]

Fer starters where in the world did they GET that rectum...

Rectum, hell, he's dead!

[LordMond63]

If you think about it, isn't ALL food (and drink too) an "acquired taste"?

[Cauthey]

It doesn't make sense with foods, for sure.

I see what you did, there.

[ProdigalGuru]

There is a difference between an acquired taste, and actually trying something that you preconceive as gross.

For instance: I thought snails would be gross, but after actually trying escargot, found it to be quite tasty.

I do not understand why someone would continue eating/drinking something thy found distasteful, hoping to one day like it.

I don't like onions, never have, never will.

I like Chili's Southwest Egrolls, and if someone told me they were made from dog rectum I wouldn't really care, they are yummy.