can your palette change in a year or did i just buy some crappy food?

[trolley]

last year i was smitten with the following: Red Cow Reggiano, Winter Blend coffee from Trader Joes and Rabbit Ridge allure de robles wine from Trader Joes as well.

This year I bought all 3 and it tastes terrible to me. The Red Cow tastes like i sprinkled straight up mold onto my pasta. The wine tastes like kool aid and the coffee tastes like someone dropped a chewed up piece of spearmint chewing gum into my coffee.

What the heck? I understand wine can differ from year to year and from barrel to barrel. I suppose the same could it be said for cheese. But really all 3 tastes terrible. did my palette change or is food quality just crappier these days? ok, the wine is a cheapo so that one is borderline obvious why it tastes like crap.

[Sensuous]

I think women's cravings do change along with hormones.
When I was pregnant I couldn't stand the way cantaloupe smelled and had to run away if one was near. A pile of fresh cantaloupes in a produce department sent me racing outside for air. Today, twenty-plus years later, that one odor still makes me a little bit queazy.
I don't typically crave sweets and can have them around me without being tempted, then at a particular time of the month I get desperate for a candy bar.
Alcohol is more of a summertime indulgence for me for some reason.

[Michelly]

Yes, those darn hormones are a royal PITA!
I just went through menopause. During my bad days, I couldn't stand the smell of garlic, which is something we use in copious amounts in most of our dishes. This is unheard of; I felt like a panda who suddenly couldn't stand bamboo.

Also consider that dairy products and coffee are like wine; subject to batch differences, age, and environment/storage factors. I usually buy TJ's Grano Parmegianno, and every so often, I get a much drier block than usual. The same for coffee; once in a while, I'll get a bag that just doesn't cut it.

Anyway, try another batch/bottle/block of the three things you listed, making sure that you check the expiration dates, and even a different TJ's. Or you might "take a break" from these particular items, then try them again. And if your tastes have changed...well, onward and upward! There're LOTS of other wine/cheese/types of coffee you can try!

[beevod]

What kind of oils are you using?

[trolley]

what do you mean? cooking oils?

[pdxgastro]

Maybe it's your vision that's changed if you're not seeing colors the same. (Palette)

[trolley]

haha! thanks for the correction. i was exhausted and depressed that my food tasted like crap last night!

[Tripeler]

Have you started taking any medications or have you undergone any medical treatment?
I doubt your palate would change that much over a year.

[trolley]

no medications however, i did recently stop breast feeding which means hormonal changes and the last of my "gestational" hormones are now gone. but don't people wax poetic re: red cow reggiano? i always loved it before i became pregnant. the wine i can understand. i'm recently fell in love with malbecs which are really dry so perhaps theres why the rhone style wine tastes too sweet to me.