How's Your Palate?

[Colt45]

This may see an oddball question, but I was wondering what members think of their own palates / ability to taste. If I recall correctly. Ken and

others have mentioned that ability to taste is in large part determined by how many taste buds we have.

Personally, I think my own palate is pretty average. I think I can do a decent enough job of defining / describing what I do taste, but I

sometimes wonder if I'm tasting all there is to be had.

[sloth]

I would say mine is about average as well... Also it seems that I suffer from mild allergies year-round so I take a hit on my sense of smell. I thought I had a palate of a billy goat, but I think I'm getting better. The number of taste buds may be the ultimate reason why people taste things "better", but I also think that experience and knowledge helps as well.

[mbrody]

I would say average, but maybe below especially after my nose was broken and sense of smell affected as I don't breathe as freely as I used to.

I think smell has a tremendous amount to do with it.

[Habanos2000]

I find it difficult to extract the nuances that some members here can experience from cigars. But then maybe it's the cigars I smoke? I can pick out what I would call your 'standard' flavors, leather, grass, cedar, but can't find some of the more extreme flavors such as stone fruit, cake, carrots, etc.

In the end I know what tastes good to me and what doesn't, so I'm happy with that.

[cigcars]

*cuban aroma & flavor - like maple & raisins, flavor of toasted bread from the hearth after taste

*new, unaged nicaraguans/hondurans - flavor of powdered milk on the back of the tongue, spring

water non-descript taste

*connecticut wrapper surrounding multi-country combo - sweet peppered spices melding to layered

maple, carob rather than chocholate, nuances of smooth tingling blanket of agreeable earthiness

on the tongue.

*panamanian tobacco - sweet, very smooth, non-descript disappearing act of smoking flavor that

does not leave a buzz

*ecuadorian wrapper and tobacco - comparatively "new kid on the block" that sings of potence,

flavor, great embellishment of other tobaccos mixed in with. excellent appearance and smooth,

sweet, cool flavor to the tongue, then turns to hot, tingly pepper spices.

[Rogers72]

I don't think that mine is very good. I can pick out most of the "core" flavors but I struggle to get many of the lighter nuances that some seem to get so easily. I think a good deal of the problem is that I was raised in the very rural, Southern, United States so I don't have a good deal of experience with some of the more exotic flavors because I have rarely been exposed to many of them in food or elsewhere.

[gersonmorelli]

I don't think that mine is very good. I can pick out most of the "core" flavors but I struggle to get many of the lighter nuances that some seem to get so easily. I think a good deal of the problem is that I was raised in the very rural, Southern, United States so I don't have a good deal of experience with some of the more exotic flavors because I have rarely been exposed to many of them in food or elsewhere.

I wouldn't blame my experience on different flavors, but I'd say I feel the same way about picking core flavors and missing underlying nuance.

[Jesuscookies]

I can pick out some basic flavors, and I know what I like. But when I hear others go into great detail about the nuances of the smoke, I am at a loss, as my tastebuds are nowhere near as refined.

[samb]

Im thinking I have an average palate. I can sometimes pick up certain flavors, but nothing too extensive. Im still developing my palate for different spirits, wine, and beer, and have noticed a definite change in my cigar palate. It has grown greatly since my early NC smokes and developed a bit more since my experimentation with the CC.

[smpf67]

This may see an oddball question, but I was wondering what members think of their own palates / ability to taste. If I recall correctly. Ken and

others have mentioned that ability to taste is in large part determined by how many taste buds we have.

Personally, I think my own palate is pretty average. I think I can do a decent enough job of defining / describing what I do taste, but I

sometimes wonder if I'm tasting all there is to be had.

Ken and others are correct in that what we taste is a direct correlation to the number of taste buds we have. It is all due to the topography of the tongue, and the number of papillae that are on it. The taste buds are located in these papillae. Depending on the numbers, you will either be:

1. A "Non-Taster"- too few taste buds. You have fewer than 15 papillae per 7mm's. This constitutes 25% of the population.

2. An "Average Taster"- most people. Between 16-35 papillae per 7mm's. 50% of the population.

3. A "Super-Taster"- a large amount of taste buds. Over 35 papillae per 7 mm's.

35% of women are Super-Tasters, while only 15% of men are. You will find more Super-Tasters who become Professional Chefs and Professional Wine Tasters.

To test your taste buds, you need some blue food colouring, a piece of paper with a 7mm-wide hole punched through it, and a magnifying glass.

Swab some of the food colouring onto the tip of your tongue. The tongue will take up the dye, but the papillae, tiny structures that house the taste buds, will stay pink.

Put the piece of paper on the front part of the tongue and, using the magnifying glass, count how many pink dots are inside the hole. Then compare to what I wrote above to see what you rate.

Cheers!

[Omskakas]

Average at best. I just smoked a cigar (Cuaba Salomone) for two hours trying to identify the main flavour without success.

But (quote from Monty Python) "I may not know much about art, but I know what I like".

[LeafLover]

My taste buds are basic. But as I pick up on flavors that are reviewed in cigars, I learn more and more daily.

But I am an expert in knowing what I like and what I don't.

[kjellfrick]

I must be average or below, but what I can't taste I make up!

[lemmycaution]

I would say about average, although my palate seems to be getting a little better lately. Certain flavors are now just starting to "click" with me. Although I still have a hard time picking out numerous flavors in cigars and wine.

[Cohiba007]

Mine are ****. I know that I am smoking a cigar, and I know whether I like it or not. As far as picking out flavors of marshmallow or cooked carrots, hell no.

[SandmanTR]

Mine are ****. I know that I am smoking a cigar, and I know whether I like it or not. As far as picking out flavors of marshmallow or cooked carrots, hell no.

Mine's getting better with the more I smoke. I can sometimes get Marshmallow and varying degrees of fruit but nothing like Smithy's super palate detecting hints of "cooked carrots" and "crushed ants".

[FlyFishingDude]

Mine sucks especially while drinking alcohol, but works especially good drinking a Starbucks white chocolate mocha........

[Colt45]

To test your taste buds, you need some blue food colouring, a piece of paper with a 7mm-wide hole punched through it, and a magnifying glass.

Thanks - I'm going to try this at some point.

[Warren]

While I know that it comes down to the amount of taste buds we have I think it is also a learned thing.

What I have found from time spent with Ken, Rob, and Smithy is that they can suggest a flavor and when they do you can sometimes pick that flavor yourself.

Weather it is purely suggestive or when the flavor is identified your brain clicks in and finds it I don't know.

I do believe that you can learn to identify flavors, you can educate your palate but I don't think it's as easy to do by yourself.

This is one of the beautiful things about cigars you can share.

[Wicky]

Hi Everybody:

I am a new member to FOH but have been smokin for nigh on 20 years. I typically can't suss out flavors with every draw but when I'm just relaxed and enjoying a fine cigar a flavor will come out of nowhere like a bolt. Popcorn,Chocolate,Citrus and sometimes flavors I know but can't put my finger on. I guess I'm like a lot of you all. If I like it I'll buy a box. If I don't I won't!

Happy to be here, Y'all ROCK!

Wicky

[Warren]

Hi Everybody:

I am a new member to FOH but have been smokin for nigh on 20 years. I typically can't suss out flavors with every draw but when I'm just relaxed and enjoying a fine cigar a flavor will come out of nowhere like a bolt. Popcorn,Chocolate,Citrus and sometimes flavors I know but can't put my finger on. I guess I'm like a lot of you all. If I like it I'll buy a box. If I don't I won't!

Happy to be here, Y'all ROCK!

Wicky

Welcome to the gang Wicky.

[BonVivant]

Honestly, no idea:

When Punch Serie B from '70 smoked my palate works great, in other words satisfied, happy and enjoying itself

When RA 898 from late '90s through '02s, no matter what the surroundings, friends, drinks, etc.. my palate is shot...

[Stalebread]

Like many here, I do OK with basic flavors but the more exotic ones elude me.

At best, my taste buds are average. However, as I smoke more, and if I'm paying attention, I can appreciate a broader range of flavors but am at a loss to put a name to them. I generally stick to descriptors like dark, rich, thin, sometimes, leathery, earthy, woody. When I do pick up a bit of caramel or dark cherry or whatever, I get excited. "Wow! Did I just taste caramel?"

As I am over 50 by quite a few years, my sense of smell and taste are diminishing so this plays a role in what I can and can't taste.

[Wicky]

Like many here, I do OK with basic flavors but the more exotic ones elude me.

At best, my taste buds are average. However, as I smoke more, and if I'm paying attention, I can appreciate a broader range of flavors but am at a loss to put a name to them. I generally stick to descriptors like dark, rich, thin, sometimes, leathery, earthy, woody. When I do pick up a bit of caramel or dark cherry or whatever, I get excited. "Wow! Did I just taste caramel?"

As I am over 50 by quite a few years, my sense of smell and taste are diminishing so this plays a role in what I can and can't taste.

Same here Stalebread. The truest flavors will hit me when I'm not really paying attention. (which is most of the time! )

Thanks for the welcome!

Wicky

[ColKurtz]

I wonder what the Cubans think of us finding marshmallow and stonefruit in cigars? I suspect they laugh their a$$es of at some of the reviews. I'm not saying we don't taste those things, but I'm not sure it's intentional all the time.

Do they work up a blend for say, a RASS, test it, then stand around and discuss it the same as we do? "Hey Carlos, there's not enough marshmallow in this cigar, put another .5 gram of third priming volado (or whatever) in this blend."

I suspect they have a few key control points to hit the spirit of the marca, and then let it go. In other words, a target strength and body and a general idea of the proportions of the leaf involved.

I tend to over-analyze things. Cigars? I like 'em or I don't. Seems the best chance I have of liking a cigar is having our hosts hand pick a box.