# Herbs, spices or other flavors mostly enjoyed by all, that you can't stand **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 27, 2023, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713 "2023-03-27T13:04:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/41 "2023-03-28T05:06:07Z")
As Mad would say: “Blecch!” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/42 "2023-03-28T06:28:07Z")
Peanuts. All nuts, really, but I cannot stand peanut anything. I have a weird relationship with food anyway, but that just makes me want to puke. I also don’t like coffee flavoured things, but that’s a dislike rather than a hatred. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/43 "2023-03-28T12:29:11Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > I truly cannot comprehend the allure of salted sweet things like salted carmel or chocolate. I agree. I think the “big chunks of salt on something sugary” trend has peaked and is declining somewhat, but not fast enough for my tastes. My wife sometimes uses a lot of ginger in her cooking and I think I’m now at the point that I would prefer to have no ginger at all in most dishes. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/44 "2023-03-28T12:29:49Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Mustard is such an awful taste that I’m surprised to hear you haven’t encountered that before. I loathe mustard. > [@pulykamell](#): > > To add to the post above, it’s probably among the most common of food/condiment aversions I’ve come across. My kids both hate it. Neither of my kids liked mustard growing up, but I i didn’t think anything of it, since they were both super picky with _ **everything** _. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a grownup who declared their hatred for mustard. > [@beowulff](#): > > Even _thinking_ of the flavor of Licorice makes me want to puke. > [@AHunter3](#): > > I like a few coconut-flavored confections (coconut ice cream, coconut Italian ice) but definitely not on my cookies or in my cakes or inside my candies. My entire family hates black licorice, so I get all the black licorice flavored jelly beans at Easter time, which is the only jelly bean flavor I think is _ **worth** _ eating. Same thing with coconut and mini-Mounds and Almond Joy bars on Halloween. I’d get 'em all. Yum. My mom is a transplanted Brit, so as a kid I was introduced by mom and Grandma to British Allsorts candies, which are all made with black licorice _ **and** _ coconut, two trigger flavors for many people-- they’re like the ‘Reese’s Cups’ of widely hated candy flavors 😄 [https://www.giddycandy.com/products/licorice](https://www.giddycandy.com/products/licorice) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/45 "2023-03-28T12:55:58Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > My wife sometimes uses a lot of ginger in her cooking We use lots of ginger root. Recently I made a pitcher of iced tea, and put grated ginger into a tea ball for the brewing. Fantastic flavor, even for Arnie Palmers. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/46 "2023-03-28T13:58:36Z")
I thought we were talking about spices and herbs but I see other flavorings have started to come into this thread. As a Plain Eater I dislike a lot of stuff that is enjoyed by a majority of people. I won’t go into the actual foods I don’t like. These are extra flavorings and/or condiments that I don’t like. Mustard Ketchup Pickles and anything dill Mayo/Miracle Whip Olives Relish Green pepper Mushrooms Raw onions ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/47 "2023-03-28T14:14:44Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I thought we were talking about spices and herbs but I see other flavorings have started to come into this thread. Yes, the OP title is “Herbs, spices or other flavors”. @WOOKINPANUBv.2 upthread asked about vinegar, and I clarified, yes-- any single flavor ingredient. Something like ‘Jerk seasoning’ would not fit the bill. Stuff like ‘mustard’ technically is a mix of vinegar and mustard seed, but it’s generally considered as one flavor, so I’m allowing it. I’m easy. My one request in the OP was flavors that are _generally_ universally liked that you don’t like, and I specifically mentioned that cilantro did not count in the first paragraph of the OP since it’s widely disliked, but of course several posters mentioned cilantro anyway. Oh well, whatayagonnado. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/48 "2023-03-28T15:25:48Z")
I’m a picky eater, so there are lots of flavors I don’t care for. the one with the most impact on my diet is that I truly despise the flavor of capsicum peppers. Raw green pepper is okay if it’s really fresh, but cooked green pepper is horrible, so horrible that I really don’t want to be in the same room as people eating stuffed peppers. Red and yellow peppers have that flavor even raw, and of course cooked. Green peppers develop it if they aren’t really fresh, too. All the flavorful hot pepper have the same nastiness. You WANT to contaminate your food with jalepenos?! I don’t care for the “hot” of capsicum peppers, either, but can tolerate it in very low levels, especially if there’s acid involved to soften it. i don’t like mustard. As a child, I despised it. But I’m older and have a less sensitive palate, and can tolerate small quantities. Teeny tiny quantities. Something like Djon is better than yellow mustard. I don’t like mayonnaise, either, although maybe that’s more about texture than flavor. A little tiny bit can be okay. But I don’t generally care for all the mayonnaise “salads” (potato, egg, chicken, etc.) I’ll eat tuna salad if there’s not too much and if there’s some lemon juice or vinegar to cut the mayo flavor. I don’t like raw onion or garlic. Maybe those are common dislikes. I don’t like cilantro, either. (sorry). I dislike kale. Kale chips? WHY?! You need to pick the one nasty vegetable in a family of delicious vegetables? (I like cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower.) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/49 "2023-03-28T15:32:41Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The axis of evil: Licorice / Anise / Fennel. They are all vile, along with their revolting drinks, Ouzo, Jaegermeister, Anisette. > > Even _thinking_ of the flavor of Licorice makes me want to puke. > [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > I truly cannot comprehend the allure of salted sweet things like salted carmel or chocolate. Those two flavors should be kept faaar apart. My teenaged daughter’s new favorite ice cream is salted licorice. Now she’s got my wife ordering it, too. Y’all maybe don’t want to go get ice cream with them. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/50 "2023-03-28T15:38:44Z")
There are three things that I don’t like that are nearly universally loved. I have met many people who don’t like one of them but I’ve never met anyone who hates all three. Alcoholic drinks: wine, liquor, beer. Any alcoholic drink tastes like chemicals. Some worse than others. I’ll admit that a good/pricey type will generally taste less nasty than the cheap stuff. It’s fine in cooking. Coffee: Hate the taste but I do like the smell. Again, cheap stuff is worse than good stuff. Chocolate: Ever since I was a kid. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/51 "2023-03-28T15:41:05Z")
OMG, @hajario, you and me on all three of those. Except I don’t even like alcohol in cooking, just makes the food bitter. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/52 "2023-03-28T15:49:05Z")
I don’t care for the sweet and salty fad, either, but i don’t hate it, so I didn’t list it. But if you give me a choice of regular caramel or salted caramel, it’s regular all the way. And i bought some very expensive lemon pepper white chocolate that was ruined by being over-salted. It was okay, but with less salt it would have been worth the crazy price i paid for it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/53 "2023-03-28T15:55:24Z")
I’m all about salted caramel and have always appreciated the salty-sweet stuff. But licorice in ice cream is not a thing that I ever need to eat. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/54 "2023-03-28T16:22:33Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I think the “big chunks of salt on something sugary” trend has peaked and is declining somewhat, but not fast enough for my tastes. It’s fading, and I agree it’s time, but I had a really subtle salted caramel ice cream recently, and it was delicious – better than plain caramel which can be too sweet for me. I think the problem was that once people started salting the caramel, they thought more must be better. Nope nope nope. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/55 "2023-03-28T16:29:41Z")
Salted caramel and salt on chocolate is heaven, but black licorice is terrible. Red “licorice” is pretty gross, too. I don’t like fennel or anise either. I’ll never try ouzo. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/56 "2023-03-28T17:00:05Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > but black licorice is terrible. Red “licorice” is pretty gross, too. I don’t like fennel or anise either. I don’t know if you’re in the US or not, but in the US, most black licorice is flavored with anise, not licorice extract, so that all makes sense. (plus all those have the “anise” flavor in them.) Now where did I put my Scandinavian salted licorice? Ah, there it is! (This one appears to be licorice extract and aniseed oil, but it’s not made here.) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/57 "2023-03-28T17:46:56Z")
I like licorice. I hate red “licorice.” It tastes like plastic. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/58 "2023-03-28T18:03:55Z")
OK, I’ve thought of one, at long last. The “nacho cheese” powder stuff that’s on nacho cheese Doritos. It’s not the garlic; it’s not the hot pepper bits; it’s not any specific individual spice I can put my finger on. But that blend is something awful, and it’s closely replicated in a few other products as well. A girlfriend from eons ago once described it as “it smells like dog food”, and that description stuck with me. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/59 "2023-03-28T18:11:04Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Dill is about the only thing I can think of. Forgot about dill - we don’t have it in the house, except for pickles. Hubby’s mom used to make dill sourdough rolls, and he got a bit over-dilled. Lemon grass is not my favorite. The one Thai restaurant changed chefs and the new one really over did it. We stopped going there because of it. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713/60 "2023-03-28T20:25:20Z")
I detest that alcohol aftertaste. It destroys any nice taste of the booze. I hate black licorice, but love salmiakki. Fish and seafood. It all tastes the same way dead seaweed smells. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herbs-spices-or-other-flavors-mostly-enjoyed-by-all-that-you-cant-stand/981713.md?page=4)