Why do we like different tastes? 为什么我们喜欢不同的口味？_BBC

Why do we like different tastes? 为什么我们喜欢不同的口味？

随身英语 Why do we like different tastes? 为什么我们喜欢不同的口味？

Play audio file 为什么有些人喜欢某些口味，而有些人却受不了？在本期《随身英语》中，我们听名厨赫斯顿（Heston Blumenthal）和神经学家查尔斯·朱克（Charles Zucker）对“口味”的分析。他们说，我们的偏好根植于记忆、基因和用餐的环境中，不过口味也会随着时间而改变。

课文内容 Vocabulary: tastes 词汇: 口味 What's your favourite flavour? Maybe you like your grub nice and spicy? Perhaps you have a sweet tooth? Or are you partial to a salty, savoury snack?

By now you're probably imagining something delicious, but take a moment to ponder this: why do some people adore certain flavours while others can't stand them? For example, oysters. They turn my stomach, but some spend lavishly on the slippery shellfish.

According to celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, our taste preferences are strongly linked to our memories. Certain flavours might bring back the sounds and smells of a seaside holiday, or an ice-cream might trigger memories of enjoying a childhood treat. This "positive nostalgia" has a powerful effect on how we experience food.

Likewise, our surroundings have an impact on culinary pleasure. The same glass of wine can taste different depending on the background music. Blumenthal believes playing loud music makes people eat more quickly, while classical music makes them spend more money on wine.