“The Smell Is Quite a Good, the Taste Is Very Mediocre, and the Texture Is Awful”: 10 Foods That Smell Amazing, but Are a Disappointment To Eat

Have you ever been fooled by food that smells amazing but tastes disappointing? Sometimes, the way a dish smells can be far more enticing than its actual flavor. We all know that chicken breast can be prepared in many different ways, each with its own unique taste.

But there are times when a dish's aroma promises a delicious experience, only to leave us underwhelmed when we take that first bite. In this article, we'll uncover the top foods and drinks that have tricked us with their tantalizing scents, but failed to deliver on taste.

Fruit and Herbal Teas

Herbal tea with lemon and mint on a wooden background. — Photo Credit: sandfunar / Shutterstock

Herbal and fruity teas have a very pleasant aroma to them. Many of them smell like fresh fruit or sweet and earthy ingredients. However, many have found that while the expensive ones taste slightly better, most fruit teas taste like nothing or have a very bitter taste to them.

One user shared: “This is why I make my own. I use a pan and boil whatever fresh fruit I'm using, with sugar, into a syrup Then I add water and tea bags and leave the whole thing simmer for about 10 mins and then sieve it to get any bits out. Trust me, it will be the best fruity tea you've ever tasted.”

Roast Caramelised Nuts in London

London's street food, caramelised roasted peanuts, nuts. — Photo Credit: Hellotica / Shutterstock

A user from the Reddit thread described these roasted nuts as smelling like heaven but taste very meh, considering how good they smell. These roasted nuts can be found sold on the streets of London. Users shared that you can find these roasted nuts while walking past the Westminister Bridge.

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Fried Onions

Homemade Crunchy Fried Onion Rings with Ketchup. — Photo Credit: Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock

One user commented: "I salivate like one of Pavlov's dogs, but the actual fried onions added to my hotdog or whatever never live up to that seductive aroma."

Roasted Chestnuts

One Redditor shared: - "Smells great, tastes like burnt rocks."

Coffee

Cappuccino on table in a cafe. — Photo Credit: jordaneil / Shutterstock

While the coffee itself might not taste bad, the aromas and smells from the coffee grounds and even a brewed cup promise better tastes than what you get. Even expensive coffee that has a stronger scent still tastes pretty bitter. While others suggested ways to make the coffee taste better by making a latte or another form of creamer in the coffee, one user suggested a way to make the coffee taste better: “Try a lighter roast and use a lower water temperature.”

Toast

One user even stated: “It always smells amazing but often isn't anything special." Another Redditor chimed in: "Came here to say the same. The smell is always so enticing, but 99% of the time, the taste is a big disappointment."

Fish and chips

A user shared: "Fish and chips, smells gorgeous but majority of the time it tastes bland". Another commenter chimed in: "Definitely fish and chips for me too, smells SO good, always a disappointment."

Vanilla Extract

Bottle with aromatic extract and vanilla beans on table. — Photo Credit: Africa Studio / Shutterstock

While vanilla extract can really elevate a baking dish and add a ton of flavor, on it’s own it’s actually quite hard to stomach. One user shared: “Dear Lord, I tried it once and never again. It’s so tempting when you’re adding it to baking but when you’ve done it once you know not to do it again…” No matter how good it smells from the bottle, try your best to avoid eating it if you can!

Cream Soda

Cold Frozen Root Beer Float with Ice Cream. — Photo Credit: Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock

One Redditor shared: "Smell of my childhood dreams, tasted mediocre."

Bacon

One user commented: "Smells better than the taste and the texture." Another Redditor chimed in: "Yes, the smell is quite a good, the taste is very mediocre, and the texture is awful."

Source: Reddit