Bitter foods are an acquired taste. Sweet foods are not. I remember reading somewhere that sweet foods become less attractive once you've grown up, but nothing about bitter foods becoming more attractive.

I always thought that people acquire a taste for coffee for the same reason they acquire a taste for beer: repeated exposure. Coffee is the cheapest caffeinated drink (at least in the US), and beer is the cheapest alcoholic drink. Both taste like ass the first time you drink them, but you put up with the taste because you want to get wired or drunk. After repeated exposure, some people grow to like the taste.

[–] OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

Can confirm, I hated beer until I became an alcoholic.

[–] chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago

I like coffees flavor (not necessarily the bitter part, but it doesn't bother me much). It's not really from repeated exposure: caffeine doesn't quite work right for me, and coffee gives me anxiety and stomach issues, wo I don't drink it often but do like the flavor. Beer is somewhat opposite: I have drank a lot of alcohol(cutting back much more nowadays) but I still find most beer not tasty... though there was this one coffee beer that was really good.

My goto is actually unsweetenee Soju, with lime added. It has a very mild flavor and the lime takes away the alcohol aftertaste.

I used to like sweet stuff but I've always drank green tea unsweetened, and for the most part unless it's honey I don't like sweeteners in tea. Coffee can go both ways, especially for caramel, and hot chocolate is sweet of course, though I haven't had any for at least a year.

Once I gave up soda other things naturally started tasting too sweet for me, and I gave up soda in general 15-20 years ago. I drink it on occasion, but it always leaves a gross sticky syrupy feeling in mouth and throat.