Change in taste buds?

[mischiefgrrl]

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced a change in how things taste since they've quit smoking analogs. I haven't yet, but it's only been a little over a week. Everything still smells the same too.

I'm wondering because I LOVE to cook. A few months ago I switched over to a vegetarian diet and now cooking revolves around how certain spices meld together and creating different textures. Before everything revolved around spicing up a hunk of meat.

Has anyone's taste completely changed? Do you no longer like hot spices like peppers? Do you notice spices more than you did before? I've heard before that smokers like spicier foods because they can no longer taste subtle flavors.

 

[LaterSkater]

I think I am starting to notice a slight difference in taste. The big difference so for for me is smell. My sense of smell has improved greatly. I am not so sure I like it though, some smell are best kept secret.....like the cat's litter box!8-o

 

[Porphy]

I was raised in a house of cooks/chefs within a family of the same. I worked as a professional cook for quite some time in the military and after. That being said, yes.

My tastebuds are super sensitive now and my smell (70% of taste) is almost super-human. I can tell what lotions and shampoos my wife is using in the shower behind 2 closed doors and across a quite large apartment (bigger than most houses 1st floor).

At first it was driving me nuts as every time my wife turned on the stove or made toast I thought something was burning and that was just from turning the appliances on.

I notice I use a LOT less salt now and reserve my pinches a bit more. My dollops have decreased nearly in half and a "scoosh" just isn't what it used to be. I only put a dab or two in now instead of 4 to 6... you get the idea

The bad side of this is that my smell has become better and my taste has improved. This is a good thing if you are smelling and tasting good items and a horrible thing if they are bad items... and not to knock Korean cooking but many of their dishes smell less than desirable now.