Posted: January 9, 2025
1 in 8 grown-ups love extreme tartness.
Photo: Adobe Stock
For most people, biting into a lemon would make them pucker, but a new study led by College of Agricultural Sciences researchers revealed that roughly one in eight adults like intensely sour sensations.
The international research team tested the liking patterns of sourness in individuals from Italy and the United States. Roughly one in eight from both countries showed an increase in liking as sourness increased.
"This is the first time it's been convincingly shown that there is a segment of adults who like strongly sour things," said study co-author John Hayes, professor of food science and director of the Sensory Evaluation Center at Penn State. "This could ultimately serve to promote the consumption of healthier foods and beverages that are lower in sweetness."
—Adrienne Berard
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