Is taste really subjective?

[HzG8rGrl]

Yea, that's what I wanna know. Just tell me who's right.

Our tastebuds and the link they have to our brain is the boss and will lead us all to what keeps us satisfied.

 

[aubergine]

When I was a kid we used to play a game in which someone was blindfolded and had to guess what they were tasting dropped or smushed onto a little piece of bread (to confuse texture) - ketchup, jam, cream, pickle juice, salad dressing, koolwhip, molasses, sardine juice, etc.- and placed on their tongue.
It was AMAZING how hard it was. Strong spices like cinnamon usually got guessed, but a lot very surprisingly didn't. "I know that taste, I KNOW it, damn, what IS it?..."

(This game could get very weird and we did get wicked.
"Hairspray?"
"Blood?"
"Mud?"
"Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww... ? ? ?"

"OMG what did you just put in my mouth?? What IS that? You did not! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH...")

So I'd say it's somewhat subjective... the mind and the eye are a large part of discernment here.

 

[Taryn]

Your childhood sounds slightly twisted, but fun!

 

[Pawpaw]

When I was a kid we used to play a game in which someone was blindfolded and had to guess what they were tasting dropped or smushed onto a little piece of bread (to confuse texture) - ketchup, jam, cream, pickle juice, salad dressing, koolwhip, molasses, sardine juice, etc.- and placed on their tongue.
It was AMAZING how hard it was. Strong spices like cinnamon usually got guessed, but a lot very surprisingly didn't. "I know that taste, I KNOW it, damn, what IS it?..."

(This game could get very weird and we did get wicked.
"Hairspray?"
"Blood?"
"Mud?"
"Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww... ? ? ?"

"OMG what did you just put in my mouth?? What IS that? You did not! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH...")

So I'd say it's somewhat subjective... the mind and the eye are a large part of discernment here.

Reminds me of an old joke. A teacher was doing the same thing to teach the kids about the sense of taste.

She put a Hershey's Kiss in a little boy's mouth, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

The teacher said, "I'll give you a hint. When your daddy comes home from work, what does he ask your mommy for?"

A voice from the back of the room yells, "Spit it out Johnny! It's a piece of ...!!!"

 

[callofthevapor]

I think it is subjective and what really throws a monkey wrench in it is most of the tasters have smoked for years. I don't know if my taste buds will ever return to normal

 

[jeffree]

Interesting thread here, and I agree with many of you. My strongest reactions after two weeks of tasting two dozen flavors... Yes, the nic levels matter a lot. I found a big difference between even the 11 and 18mg cartos--the 11s (Cowboy) had a lot more flavor for me, without any base taste.

I've also taken to sampling flavors without looking at the labels. I turn the lights down low, throw the cartos on 3-4 batts, and try one after the other. I did this recently with the coffee sampler, and only one made me say 'oh yeah, that's the one for me.' Turned up the light and read Caramel Frapp. I never tasted the caramel--I don't even like caramel--but that strong dark coffee taste had me grinnin. I plan on doing more blind testiing in the future.

 

[kdcaines]

Good idea, I'll have to give that a try.