I wonder how sensitive your taste buds are?

I have had really bad acid reflux since I was about 17. My sense of taste is not as sharp as I would like between the acid reflux and my allergies. Some times I even have Jon taste the food I cook to check the seasoning. I try and be careful not to over season for myself and ruin it for others. I do love to use herbs in my dishes for that extra pop of flavor. I love tomatoes but they are the worst thing I can eat for my problem lol. I still eat them lol.
Jon's brother always amazes me that he has such sensitive taste buds. He smokes about three packs a day. When I make the holiday dinners he can taste just about everything thing I have used in a marinade. He can pick out just about every flavor in a dish.
I love pickled vegetables. Everytime I go to the store I get a big jar of mild giardenia mix. Yet something else I should not be eating lol.

Janie they claim that smoking will ruin your tatse buds...BUNK!!! I was a very dedicated smoker for many years, and I never lost my sence of taste it is as sharp as ever! I quit smoking approx. 2 yrs ago and I can honestly say my food does not taste any better! No my taste buds are just wonderfully sensitive as ever! Thank God!

I smoke (and still do) and so far I don't find it a problem. It doesn't even lessen my appetite. Smoking is bad for your health. I tried to quit but I get irritable and restless. Hubby would rather have me smoking that quitting on him at the kitchen.

I'm pretty good at picking out all the flavors in a dish. I often recreate meals from our favorite restaurants at home. It helps to educate yourself about what you might actually expect to taste in various foods. For instance in Italian food you could expect a flavor of nutmeg or fennel seeds with Indian food you might expect ginger, nigella seeds, asafoetida or fenugreek. That makes it a lot easier to recognize ingredients and reproduce a dish.