Tasting
The Taste You Weren't Born With
Guides / The Taste You Weren't Born With
The idea that some people are just born with a better palate is a myth. Tasting is a trainable skill — here's the science behind it, and how to build it at your own kitchen table.
By Saam Kzad
8 min read
The myth of the "natural" palate
There's a persistent myth about people who can pick blackberry and jasmine out of a cup of coffee, or name the exact valley a Syrah came from after one sip. We assume they were built differently — better wired, more sensitive tongues, some rare gift. It's a comforting story, mostly because it lets the rest of us off the hook. It's also wrong.
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