At what age do we start appreciating 'grown-up' foods?

A new survey reveals the top twenty most "grown-up" foods and what age adults start enjoying them

Children have more devloped taste buds which is why they may enjoy eating plain foods like this girl tucking into some toast
It takes until around 22 to enjoy "grown-up" foods Credit: Photo: Hannah Whitaker

It takes on average 22 years until we can appreciate “grown-up” foods such as olives and anchovies, a study suggests.

The survey found that it not until our early twenties that we are able to enjoy more complex flavours, though most adults will still find there are at least two foods they will never get along with.

The most difficult-to-warm-to item on the survey was goat’s cheese, which takes until the mature age of 28 for most adults to begin appreciating its distinctive taste.

We begin to like olives at 25, and avocado at 23.

Goat’s cheese was just one of four strong cheeses to enter the top twenty. Brie, parmesan and blue cheese all prove unpopular with children and teens.

The under 20s would be unlikely to enjoy this cheese board (Andrew Crowley)

Children are also likely to make a face when given shellfish, with mussels taking until to 21 to enjoy and oysters until 24.

Whilst British children may be fussy when they’re young, it transpires that British adults are a polite lot. The survey, carried out by popcorn makers Butterkist, found that one in three adults has eaten food they didn’t like in fear of upsetting the host.

However, this may not be a bad thing as people are most likely to enjoy a food, disliked in the past, during a meal with friends.

The change in tastebuds may be due to biology; babies are born with around 30,000 taste buds, but by the time of adulthood only a third will remain, allowing adults to enjoy more pungent foods.

Nutritional therapist Karen Pool said, “As we age, the rate of renewal and regeneration of our tastebuds slows down and the overall number is reduced and this may also influence our reaction to certain foods and make stronger tastes more interesting and enjoyable.”

TOP 20 “GROWN-UP FOODS”
(and the average age at which we start to enjoy them)

Goats cheese (28)
Brie (24)
Gherkins (19)
Anchovies (22)
Olives (25)
Chilli sauce (24)
Mackerel (20)
Avocado (23)
Curry (20)
Asparagus (23)
Garlic (19)
Oysters (24)
Horseradish sauce (21)
Mussels (21)
Parmesan (21)
Blue cheese (22)
Kidney beans (20)
Spinach (21)
Peppers (21)
Aubergine (21)

AVERAGE 22

Are you turning your child into a fussy eater?