A TikTok video from an Australian reality TV star has brewed up a storm online after she described a bizarre and oddly specific phenomenon affecting her morning ritual. Cassidy McGill, known for appearing on Love Island, asked her followers if anyone else ever tastes onion when they take their first sip of coffee.
The Savoury Surprise in Your Mug
McGill explained that the strange flavour isn't consistent. It hits only in the initial mouthfuls, presenting as a fleeting 'savoury twang' that vanishes almost as quickly as it arrives. She was keen to stress that the taste doesn't 'infiltrate through the whole coffee,' making the experience both puzzling and sporadic.
'I don't know what's going on with my tastebuds but I need to know if anyone else experiences this?' she asked her audience. The revelation prompted an immediate and relatable panic for many: 'Every time this happens I do immediately panic and think "am I pregnant?"' McGill added, before joking about the improbability of a 'phantom pregnancy.'
You Are Not Alone: The Internet Responds
The response was swift and overwhelming, proving this was far from an isolated quirk. 'I have never felt so seen. YES this is a thing and it wigs me out so bad,' one user confessed. The thread of shared confusion extended beyond TikTok to dedicated forums on Reddit, where users dissect the mysterious 'onion taste.'
Commenters described it striking 'randomly' in both homemade and barista-made brews. 'I've noticed it from several different places so I'm not sure what it would be,' one woman noted, adding she usually enjoys onion in food but not as an unwelcome guest in her coffee. Theories from the crowd ranged widely, from overnight bacterial build-up in the mouth to genetic taste variations, similar to how some people perceive coriander as soapy.
From Synesthesia to Science: Explaining the Phenomenon
Some online sleuths suggested a neurological explanation. 'Have you heard of synesthesia?' one user proposed, describing the condition where one sense involuntarily triggers another, such as tasting a flavour when hearing a sound.
However, baristas and coffee experts offer a more grounded, chemical-based reason. The leading theory points to coffee that has cooled too slowly or been affected by specific processing conditions. Under certain circumstances, chemical compounds in the beans can develop flavours described as 'oniony,' 'sulfur-like,' or even 'barbecue-like.' Factors like over-fermentation, bean origin, and temperature changes during brewing or holding can all contribute to this unexpected savoury note.
While the explanation might not be the most comforting for coffee purists, it provides a scientific answer. So, for anyone who has ever grimaced into their flat white, wondering if their taste buds have betrayed them, you're certainly not imagining it. The internet, and science, confirm your strange sip is a real, if baffling, shared experience.
