# Smells awful, tastes great (or vice versa) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 18, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320 "2023-09-18T14:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/1 "2023-09-18T14:56:53Z")
(Seems like we did something like this recently, but the closest I could find was [It smells terrible and tastes like it smells!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-smells-terrible-and-tastes-like-it-smells/580129) from 2011) Anyway, the younger sonlost has taken an interest in Asian cooking, which I also share, so we went to a large Asian market last week to stock up on supplies. One of the things I picked up was a large container of kimchi, the last of which I just finished up for lunch. I was first introduced to kimchi in my 20s when I worked at a graphic design studio owned by a Korean. One day around lunch I thought “What is that horrible smell? I think there’s some rotting garbage that badly needs to be taken out”. But it was just my boss having lunch. I discovered that kimchi was actually very delicious, despite its odor. My younger sonlost likes kimchi as well, despite saying “good god dad, that smells terrible!” Which seems odd, because the taste of food is typically strongly influenced by its smell. It occurred to me that kimchi might be the worst-smelling thing that actually tastes really good. Of course that’s very subjective, I know. Durian is another thing that famously smells terrible yet many people like its flavor (though many people hate its flavor, too). I’ve never smelled it, let alone tasted it, but the Asian market did have fresh durian fruit. I picked one up and gave it a surreptitious sniff, but it didn’t smell like anything. I guess you need to cut it open to reveal the smell. I kind of wish I had bought one purely out of curiosity. As for the reverse, things that smell great but don’t taste as great as they smell, I couldn’t really think of much, other than the fact I know kids often love the smell of coffee, but when they first taste it (before they acquire the taste) they usually find it horrible and bitter-tasting. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/2 "2023-09-18T15:02:19Z")
Many cheeses will fall into this category. I think the big ones that smell bad are [Surströmming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming) (Swedish) and [Hákarl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl) (Iceland). (per a note from @tofor…these are NOT cheeses…they are fermented fish) I have had neither but there are plenty of videos of people vomiting or gagging just being near them (there is one of chef [Gordon Ramsay vomiting after trying Hákarl](https://youtu.be/-xhfJRdwHnU?t=120)). But, I have been told, if you can manage the smell they don’t taste too bad. I’m not going to try. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/3 "2023-09-18T15:04:39Z")
Fish Sauce. I really don’t like to smell it, and it really, really needs to be used sparingly. But the incredibly delicious thai curries and Drunken Noodles absolutely need it to taste so amazing. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Many cheeses will fall into this category. > > I think the big ones that smell bad are [Surströmming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming) (Swedish) and [Hákarl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl) (Iceland). Surstromming and Hakarl are not cheeses. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/4 "2023-09-18T15:04:41Z")
In my experience, ppl who actually like the taste of things like Durian and Hakarl don’t really mind the smell either. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/5 "2023-09-18T15:05:07Z")
Sorry if I was unclear. I edited my post to be more clear. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/6 "2023-09-18T15:08:33Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think the big ones that smell bad are Surströmming (Swedish) and Hákarl (Iceland). > […] > …if you can manage the smell they don’t taste too bad. Yeah, I expected to get responses like these, which is fine, but the thing with those (and also durian I’d guess, which I mentioned in the OP) is that they are things that most people think smells _ **and** _ tastes terrible, and smell like they taste. And as you say, if they can manage the smell, they may get to like the taste. But one sniff and you’re not going to be surprised at what those things taste like. But to me kimchi has always, and continues to, smell much worse than it tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/7 "2023-09-18T15:15:26Z")
I personally like the smell of kimchi, but maybe I’ve just learned to associate the funk with incipient deliciousness. I’m one who finds the smell of durian off-putting but the taste pleasant. Not great, but fine. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/8 "2023-09-18T15:17:07Z")
[Stinky tofu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinky_tofu) can taste pretty good. As far as the smell goes, please refer to the name. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/9 "2023-09-18T15:19:08Z")
I had a Korean roommate once. After he moved in, a few days later, I opened the fridge and it smelled like something had died. It was awful. I asked WTF was in there and he said no problem, it was just kimchi. I had never had it before and my first exposure to it was not welcoming. He got me to try it eventually though, and I do like it a lot. But it can really stink up the fridge. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/10 "2023-09-18T15:20:44Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I personally like the smell of kimchi, but maybe I’ve just learned to associate the funk with incipient deliciousness. Though I was first introduced to kimchi in my 20s, maybe I don’t eat it often enough to get used to the smell, and I’d get to like the smell as you do if I ate it more. > [@Cervaise](#): > > I’m one who finds the smell of durian off-putting but the taste pleasant. Not great, but fine. Darn it, I wish I would have bought a durian from that Asian market. Next time! I’ve heard the taste and texture described as custard made from rancid onions, and that was one of the more positive descriptions. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/11 "2023-09-18T15:26:32Z")
> [@solost](#): > > As for the reverse, things that smell great but don’t taste as great as they smell, I couldn’t really think of much, other than the fact I know kids often love the smell of coffee, but when they first taste it (before they acquire the taste) they usually find it horrible and bitter-tasting. Definitely coffee. It smells fine, but the taste is just terrible for me. And it’s not the bitterness–I don’t like coffee-flavored candy, which is basically sugar with a little bit of coffee flavor and no bitterness at all. Or, a friend of my once made chili with some coffee and absolutely ruined it for me. Others didn’t even notice it, but it was like a poke in the eye for me. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think the big ones that smell bad are [Surströmming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming) (Swedish) and [Hákarl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl) (Iceland). (per a note from @tofor…these are NOT cheeses…they are fermented fish) I’d guess it’s the fermented fish that puts some people off the smell of kimchi. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/12 "2023-09-18T15:51:09Z")
> **[Why I don't like Fish Heads](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJQoJ_3g4-I%2F)** > > My favorite sequence from the famed TV series "Barney Miller"TAGS: fish heads; Jack Soo; Barney Miller; Garbage; Japanese Delicacy ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/13 "2023-09-18T16:05:38Z")
My favorite stinky cheeses would include epoisses de Bourgogne, limburger, liederkrantz, and brick. I love the epoisses the most. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/14 "2023-09-18T16:11:24Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I love the epoisses the most. I think I would try this cheese offered by Qadgop if epoisses it to me. (Yeah, I know the actual pronunciation is actually more like “ee-pwass”, not “'e passes”) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/15 "2023-09-18T16:14:03Z")
At a social function a couple weeks ago, someone brought in some pickle flavored gummi bears to share. For some reason, I decided to smell them first and it was pretty awful. I enjoyed trying them though. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/16 "2023-09-18T16:34:41Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I love the epoisses the most. I’ve had something like this done with Brie (I think…been a while now). It was very good. Seems it will work for that cheese as well: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/k97Daojnq-c/maxresdefault.jpg "Baked epoisses with garlic and rosemary | Cheese recipes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k97Daojnq-c) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/17 "2023-09-18T16:43:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > As for the reverse, things that smell great but don’t taste as great as they smell, I couldn’t really think of much, other than the fact I know kids often love the smell of coffee, but when they first taste it (before they acquire the taste) they usually find it horrible and bitter-tasting. Fresh honey-roasted peanuts from a sidewalk cart always seem to smell better than they taste. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/18 "2023-09-18T16:51:16Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Fresh honey-roasted peanuts from a sidewalk cart always seem to smell better than they taste. That goes triple for roasted chestnuts (which taste like mealy apples minus the apple flavour). ---
**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:** [September 18, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/19 "2023-09-18T18:12:27Z")
I’ve never had anything that didn’t taste like it smelled. I don’t get the “it’s better than it smells” thing. It doesn’t work at all for me. That said, I like the taste and smell of lots of “nasty” things. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320/20 "2023-09-18T18:46:07Z")
Tastes awful would be stretching it a lot, but there is almost no smell better than that of chips (French fried potatoes) wafting from a chippy on a rainy November evening. And they are always - _always_ - a disappointment. Not awful, but they can never come close to living up to that smell. j ETA: and now I think of it, I guess there is a whole class of foods like lemons which smell great, but you wouldn’t eat them as they come. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smells-awful-tastes-great-or-vice-versa/990320.md?page=2)