Are You Sensitive to Spicy and Strong Flavors?

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Given the number of sensitivities that people on the spectrum have, it would surprise me if a lot of us were not "super tasters." Super tasters are very highly attuned to flavors and their nuances. Texture and mouthfeel are not part of this, as they have more to do with touch than taste.

I am one such person, and two things are unbearably overwhelming: hot / spicy foods no matter how "mild" they are supposed to be, and very intense flavors (like anise or fennel seed, for example).

How do you fare?

I love strong, spicy food.

I enjoy strong tastes like:

"Smelly" cheeses, blue veined cheeses, kimchi, garlic (occasionally).

I like really spicy foods. I like the pain sensation. I've said for years spicy food "reminds me that I'm alive". Maybe part of it for me is the release of endorphins. Most "spicy" foods are only mildly spicy in my opinion even when they're marketed as extremely spicy. I do have limits though. I don't think I'd want to eat raw ghost or Carolina Reaper peppers.

I crave strong spicy food with lots of flavor. I could put habanero on my cornflakes and still smile.

Love spicy & strongly flavoured food. I have become less sensitive to hot peppers in the past few years. I use scotch bonnet peppers whenever I can get them. Otherwise jalapeños are it, as in peanut butter & hot pickled jalapeño pepper sandwiches. I feel a bit of the heat, but not much.

My fave herbal tea was from David's Tea - Fabulous Fennel. It was amazing. Too bad they don't sell it anymore. I have tried to replicate it, but so far have failed. I like chai tea, and they have some nice chai's that aren't heavy on spices, which seems typical for most.

If you want to try hot peppers, like scotch bonnets, but aren't sure if you can handle it, just have some yogurt handy. A spoonful of yogurt (preferably Greek style) takes the burning sensation out right away.


Oh, and as far as feeling goes - crunchy stuff works best for me.

I love hot and spicy food!! Bring on the suicide heat, the scotch bonnets and the jalapeños as well!!

So far it's the opposite of what I expected. We have some serious gluttons for punishment.

I am a disgrace to my grandfather, who was so hardcore that he ate habanero / Scotch bonnet peppers out of a jar. The smell from across the room would make your eyes water!

I find that many spicy foods hide the actual flavor of the food.

My tastes are, most definitely, towards the mild side of things.

I like curry, though.

Do you know if the peppers were pickled? If so, I would eat such a thing. I like the flavor of habeneros and Scotch Bonnets. They have a fruity flavor and the heat/burn doesn't hit immediately, it's a bit of a slow creep.

I do have to say that sometimes extremely hot peppers can cause stomach cramping for me further on in the digestive process. I've learned to eat really spicy foods more on the weekends when I'm at home.........

I adore spicy food, and eat a ton of it. I have trouble tasting stuff with milder flavors.

I agree with Arganger. I can scarcely taste anything that isn't spicy. It's just no fun!

I'm having fun imagining a virtual evening of dining on spicy things I'd enjoy cooking with all of you WPers here that also like spicy foods as my guests!

What about a different kind of "spicy" as in horseradish and wasabi? I like that kind of "spice" too. Eating very fresh and pungent horseradish is like smelling salts to the head. I'm weird, but I like the "punch" of that kind of pain too.

I like wasabi, but true horseradish reminds me of someone I'd rather not recall.
I'm game for your dinner party.

I'll put you on the guest list, Isabella.

I'm fairly certain that they were pickled. He ate two of them every day. It was his "treat."

It's rather odd, but I can detect heat from any trace of peppers in the mildest foods. My husband will tell me that he can't feel anything but my mouth burns like fire.

I can also taste alcohol in anything. While I have no moral objection to it I just can't bear the taste and the burn. It doesn't matter how little is in a drink or how well it's hidden.

That may have its roots in early childhood, when Mom tucked me into bed and left her glass of "water" on the dresser. I woke up thirsty and took a good glug of it. Alas, it was dry white wine.

I voted other on spice. Mexican spice is enjoyable but not Indian. I wish I knew what they were all called cos that sounds like I'm saying it for cultural reasons when really it's just whatever they put into it.

I voted I love strong flavours and I'll speak for dad too. I grew up on a lot of salt and malt vinegar I also like balsamic vinegar

Mexican spice hurts my mouth so I get cross if people put it into stuff without asking beforehand. It's a weird sort of nice. Like I imagine non dyspraxic people find roller coasters and like I find horror novels etc.