Growing up, many of us used dinnertime as a time for creativity. We came up with new ailments that would prevent us from eating our side salad or made our asparagus mysteriously disappear beneath our mashed potatoes. If you are one of those kids (or grown-ups) who detests Brussels sprouts and everything they stand for, fear not. For once, there might be a legitimate reason for skipping the greens—you could be a supertaster.
Although it sounds more like a cartoon character than a genetic variation, about 25 percent of the population are classified as supertasters—people who experience the sense of taste with a greater intensity than average. While it’s obvious that people’s preferences for spinach or sirloin differ, it’s interesting to think about the power of our buds and how they affect what we like and don’t like. Supertasters are proof that not all people experience taste in the same way.
Why So Bitter?
Although the true cause of this extra sensitivity is unknown, scientists believe that it’s due to an increased number of fungiform papillae, mushroom-shaped bumps on the top surface of our tongues that carry their own set of taste buds. In theory, it sounds great. With that extra set of sensors sitting on your tongue, you can enjoy an Indian dish ten times more than you already do, right? Not so fast. In truth, supertasters are less likely to enjoy certain foods, tasting overwhelming bitterness or burn where others cannot. Seemingly benign foods like green tea, soy products, chocolate, or carbonated drinks can cause problems, and intense foods are even worse. Chili peppers will burn with a greater fire, the bitter bite in a vodka tonic might make you cringe, and a black olive might taste like you just swallowed two packets of salt.
While most tastes are heightened, bitterness is the overwhelming effect for a supertaster. Take flavonoids, the healthy antioxidant chemicals found in vegetables and fruits. Supertasters are extremely susceptible to these chemicals—potentially making a spinach salad taste equivalent to an old cup of coffee. Next time your child is complaining about the foul taste of their Brussels, perhaps think twice about putting them in timeout; they just may be telling the bitter truth.
