Taste revealed to be a local thing

Scottish people like rich, creamy flavours that impact on the back of the tongue, according to a survey of 13,000 people, while those living in the Midlands enjoy a curry more than most as it hits taste buds at the front of the tongue.

The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Nottingham for Costa Coffee, found foods originating from the West Country, such as cheddar cheese and cream teas, were the most popular.

The research found the UK's taste preferences can be broken down like regional accents and depend very much on an area's history.

In the North East, foods are enjoyed by taste buds on the tip of the tongue because the region has a history of hungry industrial workers demanding meals that offer immediate sustenance.

Meanwhile, those living in the South have the least defined "taste dialect" of all the regions.

Expensive foods such as oysters are linked to the area but no longer represent the palate of the majority of people.

Interestingly, Scots are the slowest eaters and are partial to ice-cream and Yorkshire pudding, dispelling the myth that the most popular dishes north of the border are haggis and kippers.

The research was carried out by food psychologist Greg Tucker and Professor Andy Taylor, who works at the University of Nottingham and is an adviser to chef Heston Blumenthal.

Prof Taylor said: "Taste is determined by our genetic make-up and influenced by our upbringing and experience with flavours. Just as with spoken dialects, where accent is placed on different syllables and vowel formations, people from different regions have developed enhanced sensitivities to certain taste sensations and seek foods that trigger these."