One of the best experiences when traveling is trying new food. It’s your chance to taste the local flavors, something that’s not going to be available at home or potentially anywhere else for that matter. It’s a treat on its own! Consider these 6 tips to expand your palate while traveling.
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But sometimes something steps in the way, the taste buds. If not an adventurous eater, this could cause problems. But it’s so important to expand your palate when you travel. By partaking in local delicacies, you’re not only trying new things but also training your taste buds to recognize a wide variety of flavors and textures.
So, here is everything you need to know to get yourself to expand your palate while traveling!
Taste New-to-You Local Cuisines
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One of the best ways to experience new travel destinations is by trying local cuisines. You’ll taste something new, and you’ll also gain insight into the area’s culture and traditions. When traveling, it’s easy to fall into the trap of sticking to restaurants that serve a certain type of food. However, this can be boring — and where’s the fun in that?
Avoid chains (looking at you, McDonald’s), but instead take advantage of what’s around you. Consider making the dish yourself to slowly become more accustomed to it.
For example, you can look into this easy breadstick recipe and try that out!
Don’t Limit Yourself to One Restaurant
Food and drink are a major part of the culture around the world. Discovering a variety of foods from different countries is one of the most rewarding aspects of travel.
But if you’re a picky eater, don’t limit yourself to just going out to one restaurant while traveling. In fact, this is one of the worst things you could do for yourself! It’s really all about going out of your comfort zone to try something unique.
If still in your hometown, choose restaurants hosting other cuisines. It’s a perfect introduction to expanding your palate without leaving home.
Focus on the Details
A great way to improve your palate is to start paying attention to subtle nuances in foods that you usually don’t notice. This can be done by closing your eyes and focusing on the food’s flavors. You can also use your sense of smell to help improve your taste.
Before you eat, sit and identify the various smells present in your dish. This is a good way to prime your palate for the flavor you’ll be experiencing when you actually eat it. It can help you to enjoy a dish much more than before! This is going to drastically help make foods and new dishes seem less scary.
Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New
The whole point of traveling is to try something new! In fact, one of the most important lessons that you can learn while traveling is not to be afraid to try something new.
It’s a crucial skill to master because it helps you grow as a person and develop into a wiser version of yourself.
If willing to experience a new location where people speak a different language, then you shouldn’t be afraid to try the food either. You’ll thank yourself!
Don’t Limit Yourself
In the end, it’s really about not limiting yourself. Whether it’s fear or if you’re a picky eater, it can be challenging to resist the comfort foods that you’re already used to eating.
But think of it this way. When placing limits on your palate, you’re missing out on wonderful cuisine of the world. There is a chance you’ll fall in love with a new dish.
Take a Cooking Class or Tasting Tour
One of the best ways to expand your taste palette while traveling is to take a cooking class. This is one of the more fun ways to expand your palette, plus cooking classes are getting more popular in terms of travel-related activities. Not only will it expand your culinary skills, but you’ll also learn a lot about the local cuisine and culture.
If you are a skilled home cook, you might not need a cooking class, but it is always fun to try something new. Besides, you’ll get to share the experience with other travelers. Plus, if you give yourself a chance to make something yourself, it’s going to help you feel braver about trying something new out since you know what’s in it.
Or if you’d rather have someone else do the cooking consider taking a food tour. All you’ll have to do is show up and follow a local guide who will take you through a neighborhood of food tasting.
