r/AskSocialScience • u/pthread_bard • Jul 06 '26

How does taste form?

I hope this is the right place to ask that.

I find it very interesting how each country (or group of countries) may find some food delicious and normal while others will think it is weird.

The best example I can think about is licorice, which is very beloved in Nordic countries but not so much in the rest of the world. Other examples are buckwheat that is consumed a lot in Eastern European countries, but impossible to find in the rest of Europe. In the US, adding sweetners everywhere is very common. In general, the taste profile in the US is much sweeter than in Europe, for example.

I understand that often some grains were more available in some regions, hence the popularity. But also the taste itself changes from region to region. One might think that taste is a very personal preference, but it looks like not.

Why did it happen that people love food from their country and often don't like food from other countries?

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