# Water will no longer taste like water. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426 "2012-08-23T23:00:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/1 "2012-08-23T23:00:33Z")
You’ve been cursed. Water will still be water, but it will never taste anything like water again for as long as you live. But, you get to choose the flavor, as long as it’s nothing that already tastes close to water, like tonic or water with lemon. It could be a plus, but if you choose something too out there, you could get sick of it. For instance, who wants a cold glass of whisky after a 5k? It wouldn’t have any effects of booze, just the taste. Ditto for cooking. If you make soup with water, it’ll taste like soup made with Gatorade (or whatever) to you, but fine for everyone else. Though I guess you could use stock. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/2 "2012-08-23T23:07:03Z")
Interesting topic/username intersection here. Question: is mouth feel also affected? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/3 "2012-08-23T23:08:45Z")
Tea. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/4 "2012-08-23T23:15:23Z")
Pepsi. It’s still water, so it’ll be fine in almost everything. I’ll stick to cream soups and put the vodka in the freezer so I don’t have to pour it over ice. I think pasta and rice will be the tough ones to deal with. Does the water already in meat and vegatables taste different too? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/5 "2012-08-23T23:24:02Z")
Pussy. (Well, someone was going to say it!) Actually, I think tomato juice would work for me. Cooking wouldn’t be much of an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/6 "2012-08-23T23:27:35Z")
I choose death. I love water too much to lose its various subtle watery tastes. Water with something, which is basically just every drink, just doesn’t satisfy me in the same way. But tea (though, which kind of tea???) was a hell of an answer. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/7 "2012-08-23T23:32:28Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Tea. My first thought. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/8 "2012-08-23T23:47:18Z")
Minute Maid light lemonade. Since I already drink it by the truckload, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and frequently in between, I don’t think I would sense much of a difference. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/9 "2012-08-23T23:52:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Interesting topic/username intersection here. > > Question: is mouth feel also affected? Yes. Full on sensory swap. If it’s carbonated, you’ll swear you feel fizzy bubbles. Hard liquor with have the same burn or warmth. It’s all imaginary though. There’s no carbonation to cause burps, and there’s no additional calories or anything. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/10 "2012-08-23T23:53:41Z")
My first thought was wine, but I’ll behave - guava or mango juice. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/11 "2012-08-23T23:58:13Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > My first thought was wine Jesus Christ. I’m not clear on the “stock” comment: if you made soup from stock, wouldn’t the water that the stock was made from affect the flavor? I was gonna choose Budweiser, but then I noticed it couldn’t be anything that tasted like water. So I think I’d choose a not-terribly-hoppy pale ale, opting basically for a malty flavor to be added to everything. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/12 "2012-08-23T23:59:33Z")
Bacon. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/13 "2012-08-24T00:01:24Z")
I’d also go with a light lemonade. It’s always refreshing, and won’t be too overpowering to cook with. I’d probably switch from coffee to tea though. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/14 "2012-08-24T00:04:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Jesus Christ… Hee. Not sure who was the clever one here…you or scootergirl. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/15 "2012-08-24T00:43:53Z")
I’d be fine if water tastes like beer. Actually can it taste like 3 beers? That’s my favorite. ---
**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:** [August 24, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/16 "2012-08-24T00:45:32Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Hee. Not sure who was the clever one here…you or scootergirl. If you join in we can have a trinity, but I wanna be the ghost. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/17 "2012-08-24T00:58:50Z")
Seltzer. It’s what I drink most of now anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/18 "2012-08-24T01:04:16Z")
[Izzard]Holy Ghoooost… Holy GhooooOOOOost.[/Izzard] And I third/fourth the vote for tea, brewed weak. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/19 "2012-08-24T01:12:49Z")
Coffee. I can drink it hot or cold, it makes a tolerable cooking ingredient, and—well, _caffeine_. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426/20 "2012-08-24T01:50:04Z")
I’d have to start eating just whole foods or something, 'cause I’d choose Diet Pepsi, since that’s what I live on anyway. But everything else being affected by it? Holy shit that’s, like, everything. Couldn’t do it. Couldn’t cook. Couldn’t drink anything else, 'cause even milk would taste different. So…yuck!! I absolutely detest water, do not drink it. People don’t believe me when I say this, but I. do. not. drink. water. period. The closest I get is ice in my diet pepsi. So, for drinks alone, I’d be in heaven if this happened, and considerably healthier, I imagine. But no cooking? No…nothing? Yuck! Raw vegetable diet for me, I guess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-will-no-longer-taste-like-water/632426.md?page=2)