Enthusiasts of the flavor of Tide Pods often compare its aromatic aftertaste, to that of the fresh crisp, universally adored herb cilantro. Thanks to extensive recent experimentation conducted by pre-teens on Youtube, scientists have finally learned why Tide Pods taste like cilantro for some 4-14 percent of the population. These “supertasters” merely possess a more refined palate than the rest of us.
“How the detergent tastes to you has a lot to do with your genes,” explained Dr. Helen Leach of the University of Minnesota’s department of pediatric genetics. “Tide Pod lovers share a group of olfactory-receptor genes called ‘OR6A2’ that pick up on the smell of aldehyde chemicals.” Leach and her team discovered that Aldehyde chemicals are found in both Tide Pods and cilantro. Yummers!
If you are one of those anti-Tide Pod folks, at least you know that it’s not really your fault and you can blame your parents for your peasant-palate. To counter that soapy Tide taste you are perceiving in cilantro-laced dishes, we suggest gently steaming your pods so as not to break the delicate outer membranes then squeezing some lime on the top right before serving. Bon Appétit!
