Another "Is it just me?"...

Maybe I'm just getting old.

But, for some reason, cashews just don't taste like they should any more.

And neither does lamb.

Cashews were a real treat when we were growing up. We didn't have them very often, but mmmmmm were they good! Now they seem pretty bland.

And lamb was a cheap beef substitute. Now it's expensive. But a lamb chop just doesn't taste like I remember it. A friend in New Zealand says it has to do with faster growing and better nutrition.

Are you sure it's not just because I'm getting old?

DH is a big fan of cashews and he has said that. They still taste good, but they're not as good as they used to be....he thought it was just him. I think some pecans taste rather bland, too.

We don't eat lamb, so I can't say anything about that.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

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A friend in New Zealand says it has to do with faster growing and better nutrition.

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I wonder if it's that, or if it's the fact that they are fed junk rather than allowed to graze..
I also wonder if there has been less demand in the market for wool so the price of lamb has increased??? I doubt anyone uses wool anymore...anyway that's just my random guessing.

I've tasted lamb meat from like a grocery store vs. lamb meat that has been raised at a small farm where it has grazed, and there is a huge difference. The lamb from the store is just sooo greasy and gross, and there is less of the distinct taste..I am not sure though how much of that difference in taste is accounted by a different recipe or person making it...

That's odd about the cashews since I feel the same way! I LOVE nuts, I practically live off of nuts, seeds, and fruit. But I don't like cashews anymore, when I buy mixed nuts I don't want to eat the cashews. I used to love them. So weird.

Don't eat lamb, too "gamey" tasting.

I have found that my taste has changed over the years. At one time, I really liked to eat shrimp. Now I can't stand to even smell them. On the other hand, I never liked to drink Dr. Pepper. One day I taste some and decided now it is my favorite soft drink.

I think a lot of things dont taste like they used to and 9 times out of 10 its down to the supermarkets wanting something that is uniform in size, and has a longer shelf life,packed salad for example is sealed in with an e number gas to make it last in the package longer. I dont know how it is in the states but in europe all veg has to be uniform, ie straight cucumbers, so only cirtain varieties are grown, anything bent and miss shaped is thrown out. If you really want tasty food the only way to do it is grow and eat your own, not always easy I know, but its amazing what can be grown in a grow bag or two.

I'm with Milk maid on this one. Last time I had cashews that tasted like cashews was from the now closed (owner retirement) organic and bulk store. Said cashews were not 'pretty' - some were misshapen, smaller, too big, or broken - but they tasted great. Lots of things are compromised in taste when processed for uniformity and things like tomatoes are so poor, several of the tv chefs recommend using tinned tomatoes over fresh, as the poorest brand is more consistant in quality and taste than the fanciest store bought tomatoes. Same applie to that tasteless stuff labeled beef or chicken; pork isn't quite as bad but still lacks taste (easily remedied if they left fat on the meat). Best bet is to buy local, or as close to what local as one can get.

Well, since cashews don't grow anywhere in the U.S., I'd say "local" is pretty scarce!

a co-worker buys cashews at one of the big box stores.....BJs or Costco. Now those are delicious. they are very big. And the peanuts she buys are really crunchy. Some of the regular brands do taste blah nowadays.

Edit: I think they are Kirkland brand ....which is Costco.

Most things don't taste as good as they used to... with agribusiness and mass production....food being trucked and shipped across the country and the world.... companies trying to cut corners... etc.

Oh - and they hybridize for uniform size, color, shape, etc. That's why heirloom tomatoes have become such a big deal. They TASTE like tomatoes. I grew some Mortgage Lifters this summer and man are they ever good!!!

I also try to buy local and in-season as much as possible.

I think the lamb from Costco is terrific - sweet and NOT gamey.

Pecans - I get some from some growers in Alabama who come up here in October to sell nuts. They are WOOONNNNDERFUL!! Sweet, mapley tasting...

Chestnuts- I don't eat them, but they are grown here... I usually send a box of them from the Delmarva Peninsula (Del-MD-Va for those who don't know) to my brother and his family for the holidays b/c THEY love them. My bro says they are fabulous ... better than the ones that get shipped here from Italy.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Oh - and they hybridize for uniform size, color, shape, etc. That's why heirloom tomatoes have become such a big deal. They TASTE like tomatoes. I grew some Mortgage Lifters this summer and man are they ever good!!!

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The in-laws grew some heirloom variety and an old style roma this year. The romas put off a few but the heirlooms didn't produce a single tomato. I grew early girls (and water them well) that put off well and had a lot of flavor.

Cashew flavor discussion is lost on me a bit - I've never liked how they taste.