So this is merely a thought I had on taste and how we all react differently to different tastes. For instance the herb coriander to me tastes like soap. Can't stand the stuff. Apparently it might be linked to a gene(OR6A2) that some folk have that causes a taste to be interpreted differently and it got me wondering if similar genes could account for some folk either loving or hating particular tobaccos. I just tried some Captain black original and ummm....it's not for me. Made me feel violently ill( all I got was a intense chemical taste) But my wife enjoys it In her pipe .Go figure . Was wondering if anyone else has had similar polarising experiences with other flavours or tobaccos? Any geneticists or micro biologists in the group?
Genes Contributing to Taste
- Thread starter Bob the bear
- Start date
I'm lucky as I can smoke almost any pipe tobacco and enjoy it.
Genetics definitely affect taste. Our senses also change with past exposures and are interpreted on a psychological level as well. The whole experience is very complex. smell / vision / mood / color / environment will all contribute to taste as well.
A lot of thing go into how deeply we can taste as well as what we like. I seem to have an uncanny ability to taste and smell things. I can't stand carrots, because they hit the bitter category for me to the point where they can ruin any dish for me. I am also not a fan of cilantro, but they don't necessarily taste like soap to me. I just don't like the intense green taste with a bitterness. It's like too much of part of a citrus taste for me. I am not sure what people mean when they say soap though. That is a very broad range of flavors.
But, then associations we make come into play as well. The culture we grow up in can affect tastes as well. In Japan they flavor some children's medicines with some of the same ingredients used in root beer. So, root beer is generally disliked in Japan.
Physiology, psychology, and many other things play into what we will like or dislike.
I am not sure what people mean when they say "chemical taste." It brings to mind the after taste of a diet soda to me. Also, Coca Cola is what I associate with a chemical taste... and I am not opposed to that completely. For me, Captain Black in just very monochromatic. But, I just have experience with Captain Black White. If you mean "chemical" as in an artificial vanilla, then maybe I understand. It definitely does if you smoke it too fast.
PG has an oily taste, but is very subtle. Otherwise, it is totally odorless and tasteless, which is why it is in a lot of our foods.
But, then associations we make come into play as well. The culture we grow up in can affect tastes as well. In Japan they flavor some children's medicines with some of the same ingredients used in root beer. So, root beer is generally disliked in Japan.
Physiology, psychology, and many other things play into what we will like or dislike.
I am not sure what people mean when they say "chemical taste." It brings to mind the after taste of a diet soda to me. Also, Coca Cola is what I associate with a chemical taste... and I am not opposed to that completely. For me, Captain Black in just very monochromatic. But, I just have experience with Captain Black White. If you mean "chemical" as in an artificial vanilla, then maybe I understand. It definitely does if you smoke it too fast.
PG has an oily taste, but is very subtle. Otherwise, it is totally odorless and tasteless, which is why it is in a lot of our foods.
No issues here. I'll even eat things I don't like. Growing up running around NYC, getting hungry wasn't fun.
Cilantro (coriander) is the only such case I know of. It tastes like soap to me, too, but it's widely used in Ecuadorian cuisine and I'm married to an Ecuadorian. I'm quite tolerant of it now. It took a couple of decades.
. Maybe, but the question still stands if some tastes are different for others
Could be lack of experience also. Aromatics aren't beginner blends and can sometimes take years of smoking to appreciate. I was 25 years in before I figured them out.
We could be a little short on geneticists here. My father could eat anything and I damn near won't tolerate anything.
Yeh, I can eat anything, and smoke anything. But, I have my preferences. I can be more picky when I am cooking, or blending my own tobaccos.
That's true, folks.
About the only thing Dan eats is oatmeal.
Plain and room temperature, of course. (I don't think he even puts salt in it)
Carries snap-lid bowls of it everywhere he goes. Even if invited to a nice restaurant as part of a group, he'll wave off a menu and reach into his oatmeal bag and plonk a bowl on the table.
Now, George you that isn't so. I also like plain white toast.
I don't know about how this relates back to genetics, but I believe there is quite a spectrum of different PH levels that people have in their mouth, on their tongue etc.
makes sense. But it's hard to pull out the little details with something that complex. I still don't know if I like cypriot latakia and not syrian or if finally one magic blend unlocked the wonders of it for me.
Every aspect of humans is governed by genetics. Sex,height,smell,hearing etc. But interestingly when I treated identical twins it was noticeable that they were still slightly different. Placenta différence perhaps. So it can't come as much of a surprise that tobacco preference has a genetic basis.
It’s a little known fact that we are assigned our preferences — pre-birth, while walking heaven’s central issue facility. Those so preordained will receive an inexplicable, lifelong penchant for Calabashes of Captain Black — ponying up to $50 per tub for chemical soup and smile all the day long.
Many souls will find an arduous life on the wild side, euphorically sniffing Latakia from large diameter bowls. Hell awaits.
Others will crawl the earth in search of Perique and spice with a great empty hole in their pallet that can never be filled.
Then there are those that will crave leaf of high acidity, destined to fry their tongues until a cat’s licker is soft in comparison.These Virginiamen, as they’re called will impulsively hoard and cellar their leaf like fine wines. The red leaf will consume you sloooowly.
Some across the great divide will enjoy licorice, soap and rose petals and be cursed with eternal rains, humidity and wet socks enjoying their potent Twists in the garden.
Then, the great architect smiled upon a select few of refined tastes, whom can appreciate earths bounty, whom can savor coffee without three splashes of vanilla, two squirts of mocha and stirred with a cinnamon stick. — Burley. Burley smokers shall build our continents. When a burley smoker’s feet hit the deck, the Devil sighs, “Awe shit, he’s up?”
Lastly, when through licking their school bus windows and coming of age, —Mixture 79 enthusiasts will keep the brand alive, because I believe the almighty has a peculiar sense of humor. There’s also a special place hell for those whom honey coat the chambers of new pipes, aka @shermnatman.
Many souls will find an arduous life on the wild side, euphorically sniffing Latakia from large diameter bowls. Hell awaits.
Others will crawl the earth in search of Perique and spice with a great empty hole in their pallet that can never be filled.
Then there are those that will crave leaf of high acidity, destined to fry their tongues until a cat’s licker is soft in comparison.These Virginiamen, as they’re called will impulsively hoard and cellar their leaf like fine wines. The red leaf will consume you sloooowly.
Some across the great divide will enjoy licorice, soap and rose petals and be cursed with eternal rains, humidity and wet socks enjoying their potent Twists in the garden.
Then, the great architect smiled upon a select few of refined tastes, whom can appreciate earths bounty, whom can savor coffee without three splashes of vanilla, two squirts of mocha and stirred with a cinnamon stick. — Burley. Burley smokers shall build our continents. When a burley smoker’s feet hit the deck, the Devil sighs, “Awe shit, he’s up?”
Lastly, when through licking their school bus windows and coming of age, —Mixture 79 enthusiasts will keep the brand alive, because I believe the almighty has a peculiar sense of humor. There’s also a special place hell for those whom honey coat the chambers of new pipes, aka @shermnatman.