• Question: Why do we have different taste buds to other people?

    Asked by whgraceandaim to Anil, Blanka, Cees, Emma, Mike on 4 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Emma Trantham

      Emma Trantham answered on 4 Jul 2012:


      Well I think this comes down to the fact that we are all slightly different from one another.

      We all have the same 4 types of taste buds but we probably all have them in slightly different numbers.

      Did you know a taste bud usually only lives for 10 days before it has to be replaced?

    • Photo: Michael Cook

      Michael Cook answered on 4 Jul 2012:


      Your tastebuds also change as you age, so the same food type can taste differently when you’re older, or if you do certain things that can harm your body (such as smoking or drinking heavily, both of which can change your tastebuds). This is one of the reasons adults find certain things delicious that kids often hate (usually very strongly-flavoured things).

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