Train Yourself to Love New Food by Adding Some Fat, Sugar, or Salt
We’ve all heard that some tastes need to be “internalized”, but sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how to internalize them. Luckily, Andrew Zimmern (someone who knows a thing or two about how to expand your taste) has a tip: a little familiar taste.
In addition to sampling food or drink over and over again (a brute-force tactic I used with whiskey in college), Zimmern suggests adding some sugar, salt, or fat, which he calls “the sexual lubricant of our culinary generation.” … ” It makes sense. When you’re starting out on whiskey, it’s easier to start off with ginger whiskey than with a few fingers of something flavorful, and when you’re trying to learn to love a new vegetable, a little something like cheese or fish sauce can make a big difference.
The key is to use a little ; Butter and brown sugar may not be the healthiest ingredients, but when “spread over a pound and a half of Brussels sprouts,” as Zimmern suggests, they can help bring a familiar tasty flavor into unfamiliar territory. (Be sure to check out the link below for even more tips!)