Foodies enjoy different tastes than the rest of us

[norma427]

Food snobs, as many foodies take a special pride in being called, favor three distinct flavor characteristics above all others: bitter, such as radicchio or kale (62%); umami (a Japanese word meaning pleasant savory taste), such as soy sauce and miso soup (61%); and sour, such as plain yogurt and sourdough bread (59%), according to a new, national online survey of more than 500 consumers by the research firm Culinary Visions Panel.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-04-25/food-snobs-tastes-wired-differently/54540652/1

Norma

[TXCraig1]

I believe it

[norma427]

I believe it

Craig,

I also think I believe it.

Norma

[Jackie Tran]

Oh crap, I'm a food snob.  But I would rank umami first, followed by sour, and then bitter.  Hot seems like it should be on the list too.

[scott123]

Considering the trillions of dollars of umami rich foods that are sold yearly in the U.S. (Ketchup, chips, prepared foods, asian food, mexican food, etc. etc. etc.), I would say that just about everyone loves umami.

[TXCraig1]

Considering the trillions of dollars of umami rich foods that are sold yearly in the U.S. (Ketchup, chips, prepared foods, asian food, mexican food, etc. etc. etc.), I would say that just about everyone loves umami.

But not bitter...

[cornicione54]

But not bitter...

Beer? Coffee?

[TXCraig1]

Beer? Coffee?

Not the same as bitter in food. Also, how much plain black coffee does Starbucks sell?

[TXCraig1]

The vast majority of beer sold is not particularly bitter either.

CL

[cornicione54]

The vast majority of beer sold is not particularly bitter either.

CL

but if you removed hops - you think people might notice?

[Jackie Tran]

Has anyone ever eaten bitter squash soup?  This stuff is pretty bitter.  It's popular amongst the Chinese and Vietnamese ppl.  The Vietnamese bitter melon soup is made by coring out the bitter squash and stuffing it with a ground pork mix, then stewed in chicken broth until tender.  The soup has a meaty yet bitter taste.  An acquired taste for sure.  I was the only kid in the family that would eat it with the grown ups.  My siblings would not touch it. 

Lots of cream and sugar in my coffee please. 

[TXCraig1]

Has anyone ever eaten bitter squash soup?  This stuff is pretty bitter.  It's popular amongst the Chinese and Vietnamese ppl.  The Vietnamese bitter melon soup is made by coring out the bitter squash and stuffing it with a ground pork mix, then stewed in chicken broth until tender.  The soup has a meaty yet bitter taste.  An acquired taste for sure.  I was the only kid in the family that would eat it with the grown ups.  My siblings would not touch it. 

Lots of cream and sugar in my coffee please. 

That's what I was getting at. Biter is a acquired taste, and given options to cut the bitter, people usually take them.

[BrickStoneOven]

If you guys hate black coffee you'll hate Armenian/Turkish coffee. That stuffs liquid bitter. The grind is so fine it's like your drinking the bean. At the end when your done there is like a black bean sludge that's collected at the bottom. My parents drink this stuff like 10 time a day.

Found a picture of the sludge.

[Jackie Tran]

David, I recently tried Turkish coffee and it was just okay for me.  Didn't love it, but didn't hate it either.   The gritty sludge texture, I really did not care for, which was floating on the top and bottom.   The middle layer seem to be more liquid and pretty smooth and did not taste bad.  I ate the small piece of ginger candy that was served with it and sipped the coffee, it was quite enjoyable, but only the middle layer.  The sludge and grit was a bit much for me.   But dang, this stuff is heavily caffienated and powerful. 

[TXCraig1]

but if you removed hops - you think people might notice?

Yes, of course. Still, I think it is fair to say that the vast majority of people like the least bitter beers available.

Most people prefer milk chocolate to dark, mild cheeses to ripe, American pizza to Neapolitan, etc...

[BrickStoneOven]

David, I recently tried Turkish coffee and it was just okay for me.  Didn't love it, but didn't hate it either.   The gritty sludge texture, I really did not care for, which was floating on the top and bottom.   The middle layer seem to be more liquid and pretty smooth and did not taste bad.  I ate the small piece of ginger candy that was served with it and sipped the coffee, it was quite enjoyable, but only the middle layer.  The sludge and grit was a bit much for me.   But dang, this stuff is heavily caffienated and powerful. 

Yea, imagine drinking this multiple times a day. I take it you drank it at a cafe, so they probably added sugar because most people aren't used to it. Most Middle Eastern people drink it with little to no sugar which is where it gets grose. I remember trying it when I was little and never touching it again.

[TXCraig1]

If you guys hate black coffee you'll hate Armenian/Turkish coffee. That stuffs liquid bitter. The grind is so fine it's like your drinking the bean. At the end when your done there is like a black bean sludge that's collected at the bottom. My parents drink this stuff like 10 time a day.

Found a picture of the sludge.

The darker and thicker the better for me.

[BrickStoneOven]

The darker and thicker the better for me.

You should try it, you'd probably like it. There's are process to making it though which I fully don't know. All I know is that you can't straight brew it. You have to like put it on the stove then off then on then off and keep stirring the whole time and bring it down slowly.

[Jackie Tran]

Yea, imagine drinking this multiple times a day. I take it you drank it at a cafe, so they probably added sugar because most people aren't used to it. Most Middle Eastern people drink it with little to no sugar which is where it gets grose. I remember trying it when I was little and never touching it again.

I had it at a Middle Eastern Restaurant.  From what  I remember the coffee itself wasn't sweetened, but it might have been.  The little ginger ? candy that accompanied it was sweet so I would nibble on that and then sip the sludge.  It came in a very tiny cup, like those cups from your kids play tea set.  I was up all night the evening before and was hoping to catch a nap after lunch.  No luck, this stuff kept me up all day!   Amazing your folks can drink this stuff all day. 

I don't think I mind the thickness of it.  It was more the gritty texture that I wasn't fond of.  But not bad for a first time though.  I'm sure if I grew up on it, I'd be craving some right now!

[BrickStoneOven]

I had it at a Middle Eastern Restaurant.  From what  I remember the coffee itself wasn't sweetened, but it might have been.  The little ginger ? candy that accompanied it was sweet so I would nibble on that and then sip the sludge.  It came in a very tiny cup, like those cups from your kids play tea set.  I was up all night the evening before and was hoping to catch a nap after lunch.  No luck, this stuff kept me up all day!   Amazing your folks can drink this stuff all day. 

I don't think I mind the thickness of it.  It was more the gritty texture that I wasn't fond of.  But not bad for a first time though.  I'm sure if I grew up on it, I'd be craving some right now!

It's not enough sugar to where you'd notice it but enough to get rid of some bitterness. When we have big family things they always make 2 different ones, one straight up liquid death and the other with some sugar. My mom is on her second cup already.