Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes-Tastes really do change as you get older
I had always heard growing up that your taste buds change every seven years. So, if you didn’t like spinach as a kid, you might end up liking it as a teenager, or adult. I always thought it was sort of a load of hooey. But, I was wrong it seems. There is actually a science behind this little bud of wisdom.
Every 5-7 years your taste buds are replaced. Why? Because the old ones die. The nerve endings are worn out as well as the buds themselves and they need to be replaced. Apparently the whole bud replacement phenomenon takes approximately 6 months, then voila brand new taste buds.
What got me thinking and researching this lil truism? Lemon cookies. I’ve never particularly liked citrus fruit flavored anything, even citrus fruits themselves never ranked high on my list of go to foods. Starting last year I became obsessed with grapefruit. Love to eat it, love to smell it, love, love love it. Then, last November, for my friends birthday we went out for High Tea. Along with our scones, finger sandwiches and tea cookies came individual lemon meringue pies. I’m just going to say that at any other point in my life I would have looked at it’s bright yellowyness and probably thrown up a little in my mouth, but this time I gave it a shot and it was really really good. In fact I thought about it for days. Hell, I’m still thinking about it.
Then this past weekend, a friend of mine bought some lemon flavored girl scout cookies and they were pretty fantastic. I’m no stranger to lemon cookies, my mom makes them every holiday season, and every holiday season I whine that there aren’t enough chocolate and she knows I hate the lemon cookies and wahh, wahh, woe is me, I need more cookies.
I’m pretty sure it’s not necessarily a good thing that I’ve discovered a new fangled love for lemon flavored desserts, but it did get me thinking about all the foods I’ve always hated, and perhaps I should give them a second chance. Except onion rings, I still think they’re gross, oh and corn, yeah I don’t like corn. Okay, so no, maybe I’m not ready to go hog wild on my “previously hated foods” list, but I feel slightly empowered knowing I’ve acquired a taste for something new and that there’s actually some legitimate science behind it.
Have you guys experienced this phenomenon? Once hating a food then loving it?
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6 Responses to “Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes-Tastes really do change as you get older”
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I didn’t know there was actual science to back it up, but I have definitely experienced this! Raw tomatoes have always been cringe-inducing for me, but lately they are a lot more appealing. So weird.
Oh, and those lemon Girl Scout cookies are the devil.
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I had this experience recently with cucumber and definitely remember times in my life where I have “added” new foods to the regimen. I didn’t know this was proven, but it makes total sense.
I have always loved citrus foods, especially desserts. If you like cheesecake, key lime pie is heaven!
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I used to hate mustard and any kind of fish and now eat them both. Unless the fish has a really fishy taste-know what I mean?
MMM High tea sounds so good. And lemon meringue pie and lemon cookies…
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For some reason I now can not fathom, I hated potatos au gratin as a small child. Then, in my teens I adored them. Potatos and cheese! What’s not to love? And I’ve never really liked any kind of fish, but I am slowly growing to like some white fish. I don’t love it, but I don’t really hate it anymore either. As for citrus I’ve always loved it. I was the weird kid that ate lemon slices like oranges.
Sorry if that disgusts you. I grew up in Orange County, CA. Citrus is BIG here.
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I’ve always been very frightened of lemon meringue, but a few weeks ago we were eating dinner at a friend’s house and she served a Mrs. Smith’s Lemon Pie for dessert. I don’t know if it was because it wasn’t completely defrosted yet or what, but that thing was AWESOME! So much so that I will include one on my shopping list this week. A store-bought lemon pie? Totally not me.
Also – used to hate mushrooms; now they’re my life. But you’re right, onion rings are really gross.
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