There’s nothing wrong with having your culinary likes and dislikes, but being unable to tolerate certain flavours can quickly become frustrating. If you’ve ever had your Nando’s order ridiculed or been peer pressured into scoffing down a couple of brussels sprouts, you’ll know what we’re talking about.

But if you want to expand the number of flavours on your ‘like’ list, then we’ve got some good news for you. The idea that you can train your tastebuds to tolerate previously disliked flavours is 100% true – and according to an expert, it’s relatively easy.

“Our tastebuds regenerate every two weeks or so, so by introducing new flavours regularly, we can ultimately change what tastes good to us,” explains James Vickers, registered nutritionist at Vitality health insurance.

That’s good to know, but it leaves us with two all-important questions: where do these preferences come from in the first place? And what’s the best training method for learning to enjoy new foods?  

The foods we enjoy are shaped by several factors, which is why there’s so much differentiation across people of different ages, genders, cultures and life experiences.

Genetics do play a part in how we perceive taste, but the primary factors that shape our tastebuds are environmental. “Mostly, our likes and dislikes are formed because of our sensory responses (mouthfeel, smell, appearance) and what is accepted culturally or within our social circle,” Vickers explains.

It’s for this reason that many people prefer local ingredients or traditional dishes specific to where they grew up – the cultural acceptance adds a new layer of enjoyment to the taste. On the other hand, if everyone in your social circle has an aversion to bananas, for example, you might be more likely to dislike the fruit, too.

Conditioning also has a role to play, Vickers adds. “For example, giving sweets as a reward can result in someone liking sweetness,” he says. “A negative reaction (such as being ill after eating a certain food) can also cause distaste.” 

Our tastebuds aren’t as complex as you might think (it’s actually our sense of smell that has a lot to do with the way we taste things), so training yourself to enjoy certain flavours is relatively straightforward.

Vickers recommends thinking of the process as teaching your tastebuds to tolerate, rather than enjoy, specific flavours – you want to take things step by step.

For example, if you want to train your tastebuds to prefer healthier foods, you want to start gently. “One way you can train your tastebuds in this instance is by combining healthy foods with ‘liked’ foods,” Vickers explains. “For example, start by deep frying vegetables or dipping fruit in chocolate, and then gradually over time reduce the unhealthy elements.” 

A slow and steady introduction can also work – especially when it comes to spice. “Slowly introducing a certain flavour or food can increase what we like,” Vickers says. “Alternatively, by slowly removing something – such as reducing sugar in tea over time – we can become more accustomed to that specific flavour.” 

Images: Getty