When I first tried miso, I expected something sweet and light, maybe like soup. Yet, as soon as I tried it, I got this bitter, salty, almost pungent taste, and I hesitated. It was different from all I had known, and it smelled too strongly, the smell lingering in the air like an earthy tide.
I wasn’t sure whether I really liked it or if I just swallowed it because it was healthy. Do you know a lot of superfoods out there have weird, pungent tastes or smells that are hard to take in initially? Here are 10 nutritious foods that can turn out to be quite icky.
Kefir
Kefir is full of probiotics, so it’s a drink everyone should be drinking if they want to take care of their gut. But if you’re not accustomed to fermented foods, the bitter, almost vinegary taste of kefir is a big no-no. Its consistency is like thin yogurt, which will be OK, but it’s the taste that takes some getting used to kefir.
Chia Seeds
Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants are in abundance in chia seeds, which are great for anyone wanting to up their nutritional game. But put them in water and they go all wet and slimy. A slimy, gummy thing to eat isn’t much fun for most people, and it is not easy to swallow them no matter how healthy they are.
Brussels Sprouts
Overcooked Brussels sprouts taste horrible, and you’ll know you want to switch up the meal when you smell them. It’s also quite chewy, and not everyone loves the cabbage-like taste. Brussels sprouts might not be the vegetable for you if you’re not a fan of bitter veggies or earthy flavors (despite their nutritional content).
Seaweed Snacks
Have you ever tried snacks made with seaweed? They are marketed as a superfood rich in iodine, fiber and antioxidants. But for many people, the fishy salty taste is overpowering, and the texture is sometimes described as rubbery or chewy. To those who haven’t experienced the taste of seaweed, seaweed snacking tastes more like something you would order at the beach than in your pantry.
Liver
The liver is loaded with iron, vitamin A, and other minerals. But the bitter, metallic taste alone will make anybody stop and think before eating it. It can be described as grainy or even chalky, which you might find unappealing if you’re not used to organ meats.
Spirulina
Blue-green algae called Spirulina is full of protein, iron and other nutrients. We eat it in smoothies to get a quick fix on our health, but it tastes terrible. Spirulina has a very earthy flavor that rivals fish or seaweed, which you can’t disguise in a smoothie. You might not like it because of its greenish tint and cloying flavor if you’re not a big fan of seafood.
Miso
Miso is fermented soy paste (which consists of salt, koji, and soybeans) that is probiotic and rich in nutrients. But the taste? It’s salty, umami, and a bit too much for some. The smell (especially as the paste warms) is pungent, and the fermented taste can be overwhelming.
Natto
There’s also natto, a fermented soy product with a pungent smell and gooey texture. Their smell is ridiculously strong, the most pungent I’ve ever smelled, and the sticky, stringy texture makes it almost impossible to swallow them. Although natto is high in protein and vitamin K, natto’s offensive odor and sticky feel put off many newbies.
Tempeh
Tempeh is fermented soy, a meat substitute, but not of the mild kind. Its taste is grainy and nutsy, a bit overpowering for some people, and the texture is rough and flaky. Tempeh is simply like a chewy block of protein that doesn’t quite feel like meat to those who are new to plant-based protein.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea that’s become popular for its probiotic and detoxifying effects. This beverage tastes tangy, sometimes vinegary, and a bit fizzy as if you’re drinking something not so healthy. Some people might love the fermented flavor profile of Kombucha, while others find it disgustingly sour.
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