It is believed that we evolved to taste bitterness because a lot of natural poisons are bitter. When people say something is an acquired taste, they are almost always referring to something bitter.
In many cultures bitter things are commonly eaten so people get past it even in childhood but in ones where they aren’t (like America) you find many adults who don’t enjoy bitter tastes.
I had been drinking bitter tea for quite a time. I don’t know if it has any health benefit but it kind of makes you addictive ;) Indeed, it is super bitter, half a leaf is enough for a full glass of hot water. However, after a while you will want to add more and more :D
I wonder if bitter food and drink can activate the bitter taste receptor as well. Maybe people who loves to eat bitter have a lower rate of cancer than the rest of us?
I'm a cilantro lover and it's just interesting how different my characterization probably is from yours. I wouldn't classify it as bitter in the least bit. To me, it's the purest taste of "freshness". I don't know how to better explain it.
There is an interesting genetic difference between cilantro-tolerant and cilantro-averse individuals. Similarly, some people smell asparagus in their pee, others don't. (The pee smells the same, in both cases.)
I read a long time ago, I think in Scientific American, that there are two different genes involved here: one that causes your pee to have that distinct asparagus smell or not, and a different gene that determines whether you can smell that particular aroma or not.
So the article divided people into four groups: smelly smellers, smelly non-smellers, non-smelly smellers, and non-smelly non-smellers.
I don't seem to be finding the original article, but here is a related one:
Part of my healthcare IT journey was as the LIMS Admin for 2 Tox labs, over the course of about 5 years. One of them was working on genetic markers for drug use. For example, of the 7 classes of Proton Pump Inhibitors, at that time, only 1 works for me. The rest either don't work, or work, but with lower efficacy.
The doc, handing it to me said, and I quote, "man, you got some weird genes". lol
We're getting close in our development of a spray that only attacks Cilandro plants. The current issue is the fire. Fire is the only way to truly kill Cilandro (other than nuking it from Orbit), but the fires tend to get out of hand, very, very fast.
As soon as we get over this final hurdle, you'll see the Cilandro of the world, ablaze and good riddance.
FFS, why is there even a type of soap that looks like a plant?
In many cultures bitter things are commonly eaten so people get past it even in childhood but in ones where they aren’t (like America) you find many adults who don’t enjoy bitter tastes.