Do you think our taste buds change? (wine, beer, coffee)

[bjh]

Don't blame the buds!! It's probably the digestive system and the brain. Nutrition needs change, and both systems mature. Or they're supposed to.

[pekemom]

I still don't like most of the foods I didn't like as a child, except mushrooms.
Never liked any even mildly spicy foods, regular pepper is "hot" to me....
I don't desire sweet things like I used to though.....

[Wurzig]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Our taste buds only differentiate four taste qualities (sweet, salt, sour, bitter). All the rest is smell and mouth feel, heavily influenced by past experience with associated events.

Sweetness is one of the things our taste buds detect, and an adult still retains the same capacity to detect sweetness. But as one gets older, the digestive system reacts differently to sugars, and makes one feel more ill at east after ingesting a lot of sugar. One's psychological and physiological reaction to certain foods have more to do with rejecting them, than the actual taste of the food.

But most of all, it comes down to smell, and most smells are regarded as pleasant or unpleasant through learned response, rather than "good" or "bad" smell. One keeps on learning smell responses, and an association with a smell can turn one off the foods that resemble it. If you get sick once from eating pineapple, and throw up vomit smelling like pineapple, you'll probably never again "like the taste" of pineapple.

For example, it was quite late in life before I learned to like beer, because of a childhood association with the smell of stale empties in the morning with cigarette butts in them.

Adding to this, taste buds do die off as one ages. An item whose formula/recipe has not changed just doesn't taste the same. My grandma loved chocolate and in her later years barely cared for it.

However, as far as fruits and vegetables go--we have changed the genetics of a lot of them over the years, mainly for reasons such as staying fresher longer so that they can be sold to farther-away markets, (IMHO, they have ruined strawberries!!!!!), less bruising during transport, ways to fight insect infestation or mold, etc. We give cattle, chickens, etc., all kinds of hormones, antibiotics and whatever else they give them so that they will produce more milk, grow faster, lay more eggs, etc. All of this alters tastes.

Additionally, lots of allergies develop over a lifetime and create sinus issues. Simply stated, many things that once enticed will not smell the same.

Sometimes a food is craved because a diet is not well-balanced. One might want a dill pickle but actually need the salt.

[Sillypups]

I think they change some. Not a lot, but I also think everyone is different..

[Respawn]

Don't think so. My parents told me they hated mushrooms when they were teenagers and now love them, but I've hated all vegetables all my life and certainly cant see myself eating em in the future.

[LinaJo76]

I mine has changed. Some things I loved as a child, I don't care about anymore. I used to love peanut butter, but nowadays, I rarely touch it.

I used to hate yogurt as a child, now I love it and eat it every morning.

Yup, my taste in foods changed over the years.

[Caligula1]

I think mine have changed alot.. Some of it may also be Mind over Matter.

I used to detest any type of Olive..I can eat a can of black olives in like 2 min's now..
I loved seafood as a child.. Now I will eat some white/flakey fish (rarely) If I hook it myself.
Hated Yogurt.. Love it now..
I have gained a new appreciation for things Hot and spicy..

Now on the other end of the spectrum..
Things you loved..but are now sick of and dont care if you eat it ever again..

Mashed Potatos.. When growing up we had them with pretty much every meal..
Pork Chops.. I still like them but if I didnt have one for a year or so.. Wont miss em.
There are others..

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by bjh

Don't blame the buds!! It's probably the digestive system and the brain. Nutrition needs change, and both systems mature. Or they're supposed to.

The buds and sense of smell play a huge roll. Ask any smoker whose quite and found out months after quitting how wonderful food began to taste!

[TonytheT]

I think so just a little bit though. I have to guess as you grow old they begin to die off a little bit. That being said I think experiences have more to do with it.

[Caligula1]

What about Tripes..? I know alot of older foks Liked it..