Hi everyone,

I have a chronic sinus problem and lately can't taste or smell very well. I'm using saline in my nose to help.  I did the PROP test and definitely tasted the chemical - very bitter - but with my vastly diminished sense of taste lately would it be wise to retest when I'm not blocked up? The taste didn't repell me for hours afterward but it wasn't pleasant at all. I wonder if my sinus condition prevents me from knowing that I'm a Supertaster (if I am one. I suspect I may be).

If you already have what you need, give it a try and than you will know for sure.

I doubt it will help to retest.  The testing strip doesn't have a smell, right?  For anyone who can taste it, it will be an unpleasant taste--bitter!

A coated tounge or candida could lessen your tasting ability. If the difference between taster and supertaster is important, you could try again later. My hunch is it won't make much of a difference and that a supertaster would still know, but all things are relative.

Thanks for the replies! It tasted bitter to me even with my reduced sense of taste, but not so horrible that I was traumatized. Even so, I'm shocked at my reduced sense of taste and smell overall. I am sooo stuffed up!

I've heard that there are four true tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.  These are detected by the taste buds on the tongue, whereas other so-called tastes are actually odors detected by the nose.

You can be fooled into thinking that -- for example -- something "smells sour" if it smells like lemons, because you have learned to associate a lemony scent with a sour flavor.  Likewise, if something smells like maple syrup, you're likely to say that it "smells sweet."

But you can't tell whether something is sweet, sour, salty, or bitter by smelling it, only by tasting it.  Therefore, having a stuffed-up nose should make no difference.

Quoted from Carol the Dabbler

But you can't tell whether something is sweet, sour, salty, or bitter by smelling it, only by tasting it.  Therefore, having a stuffed-up nose should make no difference.

But my sense of taste radically was dimished too. I didn't mind the taste of things I normally dislike strongly, such as cilantro, for example.

I'm less blocked up now so I'll try again with the PROP and see.

The "taste" of cilantro is actually mostly odor -- the aroma wafts through the back of your mouth when you chew, and on up into your nose.  That's why you can't "taste" it as well when your nose is stuffy.

Quoted from Carol the Dabbler

The "taste" of cilantro is actually mostly odor -- the aroma wafts through the back of your mouth when you chew, and on up into your nose.  That's why you can't "taste" it as well when your nose is stuffy.

Thanks, Carol!

I did the test again today and reacted similarly as before so that must mean I'm a taster. It was quite bitter but it didn't linger. However, in the past I bet I would have said the taste was more offputting than I find it now. I used to be far more fussy about such things and couldn't stand any bitter tastes.

Quoted from Novelia

I used to be far more fussy about such things and couldn't stand any bitter tastes.

I don't know about you, but since being on the BTD/GTD, I'm finding that I really enjoy some things that I used to think I didn't care for (partly because I'm preparing them differently now).  Our tastes tend to change as we try new things and get used to them.

Quoted from Carol the Dabbler

I don't know about you, but since being on the BTD/GTD, I'm finding that I really enjoy some things that I used to think I didn't care for (partly because I'm preparing them differently now).  Our tastes tend to change as we try new things and get used to them.

Yes, I agree! I had shifts when I started to eat more Paleolithically and dropped gluten and dairy. After a while I could tolerate spicey foods (I used to hate them) and after structuring things to fit the GTD food recommendations,  I don't mind cilantro!