You may even feel unsophisticated for refusing these drinks. Well, you’re not; you are a SuperTaster - a person who tastes the bitter in certain beverages and foods such as:

• Brussels sprouts, spinach, peppers, raw vegetables, bitter salad greens, chili, grapefruit and grapefruit juice
• Cheese: Especially children (I could only eat mild cheeses as a child), but may be enjoyed at a later age (Am J Clin Nutr 1991 Aug;54(2):316-20.)
• Black coffee and tea (unless with milk and sugar/sweetener), espresso
• Dark chocolate
• Dry wines, beer, tonic water
• Olives

This trait is due to genetics (Drug Metab Dispos 2001 Apr;29(4 Pt 2):535-8), actually my older son shares this taste dilemma with me.

I made this great discovery while waiting to give a talk in Connecticut - there was a poster display of foods I dislike. Valerie Duffy, PhD, RD and Linda Bartoshuk, PhD had published a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2000;100:647-655) on genetic variation in taste and its potential to influence what we like to eat. They tested people with 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). SuperTasters found it exceptionally bitter, non-tasters find PROP weakly bitter. They linked perceived bitterness of PROP with density of taste buds on the tongue. What they found was that the denser the taste buds, the more bitterness of PROP is perceived.

Is it a Problem?

No, you can avoid these foods and still eat well. However, people who find foods bitter, also rated them as less pleasant and less acceptable (Physiol Behav 2000 Mar;68(5):691-7). This can decrease vegetable intake for:

• Children who don’t want to eat their vegetables. Disguise vegetables in soups, juices and stews. Stir-frying in oil or adding dressing to a salad lowers the bitter taste.
• People who want to eat well. Add small amounts of salt, sugar or fat to vegetables to make them taste less bitter.

More trivia:

• With older age, taste sensitivity to PROP declines, leading to an increased liking for bitter cruciferous vegetables (Health Psychol 1999 Nov;18(6):570-8.)
• Taste changes can occur during times of hormonal change. Coffee, even with milk and sweetener, can taste bitter when pregnant.
• It may be more difficult to become an alcoholic if you find these drinks bitter.

The next time you refuse good, dry wine and prefer a soda, explain you are a SuperTaster, and your friends are NonTasters.

Q: I just read your article on "SuperTasters". All I can say is "Wow, what a
revelation!" It explains so much. Perhaps it's not that important in the grand scheme of things but in some way I knew that I didn't "like" what other people seemed to like. It's comforting to know the reason behind the discrepancy. Everyone seems to like an ice-cold beer and I can stomach one now and again but I would prefer a sweet German wine instead. I could never understand the allure of alcohol. Or I'm at a nicer restaurant and get a salad but I'm disappointed to find that it's composed of vile leaves. Everyone else seems to enjoy it but to me it's like eating grass. Does the research indicate what percentage of the general population belongs to this strange breed?

A: You'll find many people are SuperTasters once you notice their food choices. You will bond immediately. Research shows that 20% of people are SuperTasters. Many are professional wine tasters. Enjoy your German wine, I certainly do.