Do you prefer salty or sweet foods? Do you love dishes with a spicy touch or do you prefer bitter flavors? Those flavor preferences can reveal little clues about our personality.
Personality manifests itself in practically all of our preferences and small daily decisions, from our favorite color to the type of music we like and, of course, the flavors we prefer. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that the foods we choose represent a window into our inner world.
When do we develop a preference for flavors?
The latest studies suggest that the preference for certain flavors begins to develop before we are born. When we are in the womb, we can experience different flavors through amniotic fluid and later, we can feel those differences through the taste of breast milk.
In fact, it has been found that when mothers have a varied diet during pregnancy, their children are more open to trying new flavors and developing a less problematic relationship with food.
However, taste preferences are not only determined by what our mothers ate, but are also influenced by our psyches. Different studies have linked certain personality traits with our tastes in gastronomy.
Salt and inner strength
If you prefer salt and crunchy foods , you are likely an ambitious person who is driven by strong intrinsic motivation. A study conducted at Pennsylvania State University revealed that people who prefer salty foods often work excessively because they always want to go further and very high in their jobs or entrepreneurship.
They are people with big dreams and ambitious goals . In fact, one in four elite athletes has been found to have more developed taste buds than the average person and prefer salty foods . These people generally have a high sensitivity to bitter or spicy foods, but they enjoy salty flavors very much and are generally not big fans of sweets.
Sweets and kindness
If you are one of those people who enjoys dessert more than dinner, you probably have a much “sweeter” personality, literally. People who like sweet foods tend to be more kind or loving, as revealed by a study conducted at Gettysburg College.
Other research conducted at North Dakota State University confirmed that people who prefer candy, cakes, and sweets in general tend to be more friendly, compassionate, and empathetic. These people tend to get more involved in volunteer activities and it is natural that they share and help others selflessly.
Spicy and adventurous spirit
The spicy flavor may be ” too much flavor ” for some, but others just love it. These people are more likely to have a more adventurous personality as well, as revealed by a series of studies conducted at the University of Pennsylvania.
These psychologists found that people who prefer spicy and seasoned foods also enjoy new adventures that give them intense emotions . They are people who quickly get bored with everyday life and need a dose of adrenaline in their lives, so they are always ready to try new experiences.
They found that people who enjoy intense emotions can engage in activities such as riding a roller coaster or who like to be the center of attention, and they are also lovers of spicy food. These people love to be praised, but they also tend to be more tolerant.
The bitter touch and the insensitivity
If you like black coffee, tonic, and radishes, you likely have some narcissistic personality traits ( not necessarily ) . According to a study conducted at the University of Innsbruck, people who prefer bitter taste tend to display a personality with antisocial traits .
After analyzing nearly 1,000 people, these psychologists found that those who prefer bitter foods tend to be more manipulative and often respond callously to others. They can also display Machiavellian, narcissistic, and even psychopathic traits.
Heartburn goes hand in hand with reflection
Acidic flavors are not exactly preferred, but if you are someone who loves citrus and any other food with a sour touch, you are more likely to be thoughtful and rational .
However, the researchers also point out that you may have a tendency to develop ruminant thinking and feel overwhelmed with anxiety, because you think too much about things.
A study carried out at the University of Wageningen found that people who prefer sour flavors are also more open to new stimuli and can become very creative if they can control their tendency to rationalize. Although they can also become very critical and harsh towards others because they set very high standards.