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“Tastes Like Dirt”: 30 Things Some Netizens Can’t Believe People Actually Enjoy Eating
Interview
There are a number of food items that are stereotypically hated, particularly by children. Brussels sprouts and broccoli, for example. However, everyone’s taste buds have their own little personality, so some folks end up surprised when they try popular and beloved items and end up hating them.
A netizen asked “What food/drink are you convinced people are pretending to like?” and people share their favorite examples. We got in touch with the person who posed the question to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and examples below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Oysters. Slimy like swallowing a raw egg.
zububonsai 2 weeks ago
I admire people who are brave/adventurous enough to dig into ... IMHO... cold big boogers.
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#2
Red Bull. Tastes fruity, but also fishy, and also like old copper pennies. I’m convinced people only drink it because it amplifies the drunkenness.
Child of the Stars 2 weeks ago
I don't like most energy drinks. They just taste like cough syrup to me.
#3
Bubble tea. It is vile and not even cheap.
WindySwede 2 weeks ago
Never had it, and will never try. No need for mee to risk start liking more sugary stuff for one.. 😋
Bored Panda got in touch with the netizen who created the thread and they were kind enough to answer some of our questions. Firstly, we were curious to hear why they wanted to ask the internet about this in general.
“I was probably pretty bored and thought it would be a fun question to ask to kill some time. I'm also pretty passionately against sweet potato fries. I guess it was a combination of catching people at the right time and it being a subject others are passionate about. It's a pretty light-hearted question and funny to discuss.”
#6
Sparkling water. Like I genuinely don’t see the reason for it and it somehow tastes bitter. I feel like a lot of people drink it just cause it’s fancy? Idk.
Philly Bob 1 week ago
It kinda tastes like TV Static, if you can imagine what TV static tastes like!
“Mayo and cucumber are both up there with sweet potato fries. In fact they're actually way worse, I can't stand either and they seem to make their way into so many dishes. I actually don't mind sweet potato fries, I just can't fathom why anyone would want them over normal chips,” they shared.
#7
Prime.
My nephew gave me a spare bottle and it tastes like if you just ate the icing off an entire birthday cake, despite it being low in sugar.
SheamusFanFrom1987 2 weeks ago (edited)
Better known by the scientific name: Loganus Micro-Paul-asticus
#8
IPA.
Now I love your regular lagers, especially draught on a hot sunny day. I even developed a taste for fruit beers too, there's definitely a time and a place for them.
But IPA.... I swear to Sue Barker that it tastes like how cat wee smells. You know that pungent almost ammonia type smell?
That's IPA for me.
I love the cool label designs and names, they have all done well with the branding, but I sort of think that's 75% of the appeal.
#9
I legitimately like everything that has been mentioned in this thread so far, I think. So I am obviously not the target audience of this question.
I like all the 'weird' s**t people stereotypically dislike. Mushrooms, spinach, sprouts, olives, anchovies, stinky cheese, fermented foods, raw fish, caviar, plain water, etc. And I legit prefer these foods to the foods people are 'supposed' to like, like burgers and chips/fries. I'd rather eat a bowl of sauteed mushrooms than a bag of doritos or whatever. Any day of the week.
Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Whereas I could eat a bowl of sauteed mushrooms using the Doritos as little spoons.
We also wanted to hear if they had any comments or suggestions that they particularly agreed with. “Just looking back, Aperol Spritz is my favorite answer. I've tried it so many times, even tried it a few times in Italy and it's just meh. It's not nasty, it's just not nice and the color of it writes cheques its flavor cannot cash.”
#10
The classic coriander. Blehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It's soooo nasty. Like soapy soil.
#12
I'm convinced that the vast majority of the wine industry is a huge con that is built on the basis that people are vacuous twats who think spending stupid money on a drink makes them more sophisticated.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 weeks ago
I drink it because I like it. I'm not buying top shelf though. 2nd and 3rd shelf are good enough for me.
#13
Brioche bread should never go near a burger (it is a sweet bread) the 'chef' who made that one popular wants sacking.
#15
Aperol Spritz "I'll have a glass of nail varnish remover, please.".
#16
Guinness.
"Go to the Guinness brewery in Dublin and drink a whole pint and you'll love it."
I did and it still tasted like shite. Liars.
#17
Celery.
It's the food of the devil and should be eradicated asap.
#18
Beer. It’s disgusting, yet I’ve drank gallons.
WindySwede 2 weeks ago
I prob just have had max two smal cans my entire life, can't stand the taste 🙀 but you do you. 👍
#19
Beetroot, it tastes like dirt and can’t understand why anyone would want to have it in anything.
#20
Caviar. If it cost 2 quid down Tesco, nobody would eat that s**t 🧐.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 weeks ago
Dr. Zoidberg: "What is this? Fish eggs? Goose liver? I ask for rich guy stuff and you give me garbage! I had garbage last night!"
#22
Gin. That whole phase of everyone loving gin was ridiculous thank f**k people are mostly over it.
Edit: yes whatever mix of gin you're suggesting I've tried it and I still think it's vile. I've got a few bottles in the house (gifts) and every time I try some thinking it can't be as bad as I remember it I'm proved wrong... its worse.
#23
Expensive wines. In blind taste tests even ‘experts’ can’t tell them apart from cheap supermarket bottles.
Annik Perrot 2 weeks ago (edited)
I disagree. Not an expert, but I can easily tell the difference between à 5€ bottle and à 30€ one. Not so easily between à 30€ bottle and à 150€ one, though.
#25
Coffee, high street coffee anyway. 9 times out of 10 it tastes like ashtray but people are still willing to pay £3+ for it. Every morning, because 'they can't even'.
#26
Probably gonna get down voted to s**t but…ketchup
The smell of it makes me gag and I think it ruins anything it’s put on.
Leoninus Fate 2 weeks ago
a dab is better then a lot, it makes stuff taste good, but drowning stuff in it is blah
Boo 1 week ago
I make my own and agree. Also great used as a dip for pizza
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Upstaged75 1 week ago
My kid used to smother broccoli with it. At the time I was just happy he was eating veggies. :)
T'Mar of Vulcan 1 week ago
Try proper tomato sauce, like All Gold (I'm sure there's a place near you that imports South African products).
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 1 week ago
I have an aunt, who has cooked, run, and owned VERY fancy restaurants...and she always hated ketchup, but she always had it available for other people. She still always said how much people in the restaurant business hate it.
Regina Holt 1 week ago
I kinda like ketchup on my burger, but I also need yellow mustard with it. That combo I like.
Debby Keir 1 week ago
It's a running joke in our family that if anyone asks for ketchup then the meal I've cooked is pretty tasteless.
grunge bunnyy (she/they) 1 week ago (edited)
I have a friend who absolutely drowns every meal in ketchup, it's disgusting to watch.
Kate Jones 1 week ago (edited)
I'm a dabber. Like, I'll take a bit on the side. But I don't understand people who cover their fries in it. A girl I used to work with loved ketchup so much she'd make spaghetti with it. She's boil noodles and just squeeze cold ketchup on it and eat it like that. If given the option, I'd prefer tartar sauce for fries instead of ketchup. Or even a cheese sauce. Ketchup is just too acidic.
Hans Georg 2 weeks ago
Depends. Hela ketchup is very slimy. Heinz/Kraft does not really taste any different than cheap ketchup. Except the dried tomato. I prefer Develey. Frites are eaten with mayo, not ketchup. Sausage with mustard.
Comment Deleted 1 week ago (edited)
K.D. and ketchup never gets old. Same for grilled cheese and ketchup. Comfort food no matter what your age.
#27
Raw steak.
That s**t literally is for social media pictures. Oooh look at my red steak that I didn't cook, how cool I am.
They scrape it straight into the garbage.
#28
Coffee. Tastes awful and makes me feel sick. Doesn’t even wake you up it literally makes me sleep.
#29
Sweet potato fries are better than normal fries - they have to be properly deep-fried, though, and galvanized with salt/seasoning.
#30
Cauliflower. The whole cauliflower craze with everything being made from it is baffling. I don’t want cauliflower wings, cauliflower steak, or cauliflower rice. It seems like it’s become the trendy new thing and yet its rank.
What do you think ?
Adam Jeff 2 weeks ago
I know this is supposed to be lighthearted but really, if we can't even accept that other people might have different food preferences than us, what hope is there of living in a shared society?
Ms.GB 1 week ago
Yeah for some reason people assume we all taste the same thing when we eat a type of food...we don't. While cilantro and wine taste delicious to me I can fully understand that other people aren't always experiencing those flavors the same way as I am.
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mandy the capibara 2 weeks ago (edited)
For some reason, I can't stand the taste of most tropical fruits. Guave, mango, dragonfruit... bluurgh, sweet but in a really odd way, and with a very odd rotting undertone. And an even hotter take; the more high cuisine the restaurant, the shittier their desserts are.
Crystal M 1 week ago
I agree, I thought I was alone with the tropical fruits.
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SheamusFanFrom1987 2 weeks ago
Some of the things here seem pretty okay in my book. Wait til you guys try stuff like stinky tofu, natto and tempoyak. You'd probably find this list much tamer then -_- XP
Papa 2 weeks ago
I'm surprised none of them mentioned blue cheese. I think it's genetic, but to me it tastes like vomit smells.
Tobias Reaper 1 week ago
Brussel Sprouts to me they taste like if poop vomited disgusting my parents used to make me eat them as a kid it made me gag. Anyone who says they like the taste i am convinced they are an alien.
Helena 1 week ago
A lot of the world apparently uses the word coriander when they mean cilantro. I think the word cilantro and coriander being separate parts of the same plant might be a US thing/reference.
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Hobby Hopper 1 week ago
Raw onion in any form tastes like hot garbage to me. The irony is I absolutely love caramelized onions and those crispy fried onions you get in a tin.
Emma S 1 week ago (edited)
Brussel sprouts. Every British person pretends to like them at Christmas and doesn't bother with them for the rest of the year.
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 week ago
Boiled brussel sprouts are gross. Oven roasted, with bacon and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze reduction and a sprinkle of sea salt...oh ..god !!! Orgasmic
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whineygingercat 2 weeks ago
You forgot: Escargot. It's like trying to eat a garlic-coated balloon
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 week ago
I absolutely love escargot! So you can give me your share.
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Huddo's sister 2 weeks ago
I also hate the taste, plus I'm allergic to it
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DoubleDoubleTiredAndTuckered 1 week ago
I can’t stand tomatoes, unless they’re sun dried or ketchup lol
Roberta Surprenant 1 week ago
raw oysters ONLY if there is plenty of wasabi and lemon available.
Druklet 2 weeks ago
Random people complain about what bugs them. One of the 3 main uses of the internet
Load More Replies... Adam Jeff 2 weeks ago
I know this is supposed to be lighthearted but really, if we can't even accept that other people might have different food preferences than us, what hope is there of living in a shared society?
Ms.GB 1 week ago
Yeah for some reason people assume we all taste the same thing when we eat a type of food...we don't. While cilantro and wine taste delicious to me I can fully understand that other people aren't always experiencing those flavors the same way as I am.
Load More Replies... mandy the capibara 2 weeks ago (edited)
For some reason, I can't stand the taste of most tropical fruits. Guave, mango, dragonfruit... bluurgh, sweet but in a really odd way, and with a very odd rotting undertone. And an even hotter take; the more high cuisine the restaurant, the shittier their desserts are.
Crystal M 1 week ago
I agree, I thought I was alone with the tropical fruits.
Load More Replies... SheamusFanFrom1987 2 weeks ago
Some of the things here seem pretty okay in my book. Wait til you guys try stuff like stinky tofu, natto and tempoyak. You'd probably find this list much tamer then -_- XP
Papa 2 weeks ago
I'm surprised none of them mentioned blue cheese. I think it's genetic, but to me it tastes like vomit smells.
Tobias Reaper 1 week ago
Brussel Sprouts to me they taste like if poop vomited disgusting my parents used to make me eat them as a kid it made me gag. Anyone who says they like the taste i am convinced they are an alien.
Helena 1 week ago
A lot of the world apparently uses the word coriander when they mean cilantro. I think the word cilantro and coriander being separate parts of the same plant might be a US thing/reference.
Load More Replies... Hobby Hopper 1 week ago
Raw onion in any form tastes like hot garbage to me. The irony is I absolutely love caramelized onions and those crispy fried onions you get in a tin.
Emma S 1 week ago (edited)
Brussel sprouts. Every British person pretends to like them at Christmas and doesn't bother with them for the rest of the year.
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 week ago
Boiled brussel sprouts are gross. Oven roasted, with bacon and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze reduction and a sprinkle of sea salt...oh ..god !!! Orgasmic
Load More Replies... whineygingercat 2 weeks ago
You forgot: Escargot. It's like trying to eat a garlic-coated balloon
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 week ago
I absolutely love escargot! So you can give me your share.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 2 weeks ago
I also hate the taste, plus I'm allergic to it
Load More Replies... DoubleDoubleTiredAndTuckered 1 week ago
I can’t stand tomatoes, unless they’re sun dried or ketchup lol
Roberta Surprenant 1 week ago
raw oysters ONLY if there is plenty of wasabi and lemon available.
Druklet 2 weeks ago
Random people complain about what bugs them. One of the 3 main uses of the internet
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