Why do bitter foods exist?

[StormRider]

I'm Chinese and we have something called the bitter melon. It's a bitter tasting squash/melon. When you think about it, it makes you wonder why bitter tasting foods even exist. When something taste bitter, it's a sign that it might be bad or poisoness -- so how in the world did this ever become a food?

Do other cultures have a bitter tasting food too? I can't think of any other off hand.

 

[Tiamat]

yeah, i hate bitter melon. "fu-gua" or something like that in cantonese. Some members of my family actually enjoy it.

 

[Maximilian]

Who decided it would be a good idea to make a food out of a sheeps stomach (haggis)??? Same reason as bitter foods, because some people think its tasty. Haggis is tasty, and so is lemon.. kinda..

 

[KLin]

WHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!?!??!?! WHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

/Nancy Kerrigan

 

[UberNeuman]

Much depends on your age, not your nationally... As you grow older, you tend to savor more intensive favors in your foods...

 

[Kirby64]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
Much depends on your age, not your nationally... As you grow older, you tend to savor more intensive favors in your foods...

Maybe that's true up to a point, but as you near the age of elderly, you tend to savor food that tastes horrible or has no taste at all. This is evident in both my grandparents.

 

[StormRider]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
Much depends on your age, not your nationally... As you grow older, you tend to savor more intensive favors in your foods...

Yeah, I think it's because as you get older your taste buds get weaker or something. Bitter melon doesn't taste as bad to me now as when I was younger.

 

[Coquito]

Bier! :beer::beer:

 

[TheVrolok]

Bitter foods can be pretty good in combination with other types of foods

 

[episodic]

percimmons for life

 

[Mucho]

As a kid I hated almost all vegetables now I cant get enough, I think your taste will change with time.

 

[dighn]

I'm not sure if too many people here understand how bitter that crap is. it serious makes me nauseous.

it does seem that older people tend to like it more. maybe it's because they have deteriorated sense of taste?

 

[Inspector Jihad]

indian food uses this similar vegetable called karela. it might even be the same thing. anyway, its really bitter but also very delicious.

 

[Mo0o]

kids have more sensitive taste buds so bitter foods taste more bitter. as you get older bitter melon wont taste as bitter.

 

[TecHNooB]

Ku gua is teh nasty :|

 

[kaymin]

Well that goes for 'sour' foods too. A lot of people don't think sour tastes good but some do. Similarly, some poeple don't find bitterness negative tasting. I actually think it tastes pretty good and I'm only 24. Nationality does have a big influence on your taste buds. Koreans love SPICY food, indians love curry. So i'd have to say it's much more about nationality rather than age.

 

[Fritzo]

I'm bitter.

 

[Praxis1452]

bitter melon is crap!

 

[IGBT]

..try bitter dark choclate some time. Trader Joes has it.

 

[jacob0401]

yeh bitter melon is gross...my parents enjoy it though...

 

[Mrvile]

It also has to do with what you're used to...especially growing up. A lot of my chinese family loves bitter melon and other extremely spicy foods (they are from northwestern China) while my dad, who is american, cannot stand either.

 

[BillGates]

coffee

 

[monk3y]

Bitter is better!

 

[neutralizer]

Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Ku gua is teh nasty :|

Oh ****** that stuff. That stuff is nasty. I had no idea why my parents like it.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: KLin
WHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!?!??!?! WHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

/Nancy Kerrigan

That audio clip never gets any less creepy no matter how much time passes...