Your taste is unique

Your taste is unique

Author: BBC World Service July 4, 2024 Duration: 30:26

Taste, it turns out, is not a matter of opinion. Scientists have discovered that your perception of taste is informed by your genetics.

When we eat or drink something, we may be having an entirely different experience to the person we’re sharing a meal with, or the chef who has prepared it, or the critic who has recommended it.

In this programme Ruth Alexander explores her likes and dislikes and how they might be informed by biology.

Ruth meets Laura Kent of the Yorkshire Wine School in the UK who helps her learn about her sensitivity to acidic and bitter flavours. Ruth speaks to Anne Fadiman, writer and Professor of creative writing at Yale University in the US, who dislikes wine, despite her wine critic father loving it. Danielle Reed, Chief Science Officer at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, US, explains the science. Tim Hanni, Master of Wine, and author of ‘Why You Like The Wine You Like’ argues that the wine industry is not paying enough attention to individual tastes. Where does this new science leave wine competitions? David Kermode, judge at the IWSC, International Wine and Spirits Competition, makes the case for the experts.

If you'd like to contact the programme, please contact thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk.

Presented by Ruth Alexander. Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

(Image: three people tasting wine. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)


There’s a story behind every meal, and The Food Chain from the BBC World Service goes out to find it. This isn’t just a series about recipes or restaurant reviews; it’s a deep and often surprising exploration of how food shapes our world. Each episode follows a single thread, whether it’s the economic forces that decide what grows in a field, the hidden science in your kitchen, or the profound cultural traditions carried in a family dish. You’ll hear from farmers, chefs, economists, historians, and scientists, all contributing pieces to a larger picture about our global relationship with what we eat. The conversations reveal the complex journey from source to table, unpacking the labor, innovation, and sometimes the controversy, involved in feeding communities. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a well-reported global conversation, one that changes how you think about the next thing you’ll eat. It connects the personal act of eating to vast systems of business, culture, and science, making the everyday subject of food endlessly fascinating.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Food Chain
Podcast Episodes
How much water should I drink? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
Do you know how much you should drink? Many global guidelines recommend approximately 2 litres a day for women and 2.5 litres a day for men, including food. But scientists say there is actually huge variation in how much…
Can you taste a place? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:55
Is it possible to taste a place? A listener wonders whether the French concept of ‘terroir’ can apply to food and, if so, what the science behind it is. Ruth Alexander goes in search of the answer, exploring how growing…
So you want to run a food truck? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Fancy starting a food truck? It can be a way to trial new food concepts and see if your business has potential before committing to a restaurant premises. Ruth Alexander finds out what its really like running a food truc…
How ‘Bangla Town’ changed a nation's food culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
An Indian curry house is one of the most popular places to go out for a meal in the UK, and is part of British life. But many people do not know their origins lie in what is now Bangladesh, after a wave of migration from…
Forever foods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Ruth Alexander learns about ‘forever’ foods - stocks, soups and sourdough starters that can be replenished again and again and used for weeks, months or even years. Ruth hears about a beef soup in Bangkok that has been m…
Don't call me an influencer! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:27
Social media is awash with videos of people trying out new recipes at home and exploring the best hidden foodie gems in cities around the world. The stream of content seems endless – so how do the people making these vid…
How risky is drinking alcohol? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:52
If you’re a light or moderate drinker, the World Health Organization wants you to know that no level of alcohol is safe for your health. But just how big is that risk and might it be one you’re willing to take? And what…
What does collagen do for you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Is it worth taking collagen? With cosmetic companies and A-listers claiming it can slow the effects of ageing, the market for collagen supplements is booming. How sure is the science though? Ruth Alexander speaks to expe…
The business of food halls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Have you visited a food hall recently? It’s a venue bringing together multiple independent food and drink businesses, often with communal seating. We look at the ways in which food halls are being used to bring consumers…
First impressions of a new food culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:17
Strawberries at the airport when meeting your future husband for the first time, finally tasting world famous fish and chips and wondering why on earth the pasta is green. These are some of this week’s stories of first i…