I have a food quirk that other people always find odd, which is that I’m completely unable to tolerate the taste of cucumber or any sort of melon.
I’m told that cucumbers taste of nothing, and that melons are sweet. But for me…well it’s hard to describe, the best way I can explain is that they just taste like poison to me. Incredibly bitter, and my body does not want me to swallow it.
The single worst thing I have ever eaten is watermelon. I tried it once, it tasted horrible, and I told myself, “Ok, just swallow it and have a drink to wash away the taste.” But the “poison” instinct was so strong, I physically couldn’t swallow it, and I was in tears by the time I spat it out. And this is as an adult, not a child.
I’ve never known anyone else have this problem, particularly my family, who all seem to be keen on melon. But by Googling I’ve found a few mentions of other people who can’t stand cucumber and melon.
I’m wondering whether there is some sort of scientific explanation behind this? I presume that cucumbers and melons are related in some way; do they contain some sort of bitter chemical that most people can’t taste?
Am I just crazy?