I started to get a bitter taste in my mouth after eating. At first I thought I was going to die so I Googled on it – how many people a minute go through that process! My scatter gun approach to diagnosis came up with a series of suggestions. I either had jaundice or I was diabetic or I had eaten pine nuts (possibly from China) in the last few days. My skin isn’t yellow and my pee isn’t orange and I am not thirsty all the time but I had eaten a new kind of pine nut in the last few days so the third option looks like it warrants attention. After Googling start blogging.
There is a very short scientific-like paper out there Taste disturbances after pine nut ingestion. In the initial case the pine nuts were oxidized and not fit for consumption but six other cases are mentioned and it is not clear if these were oxidized. A test subject also consumed two portions of nuts which I guess they wouldn’t do if they were oxidized. Importantly there was no fungal contamination, no pesticide contamination and they didn’t know what species of tree the nuts were from but they had come from China.
The wikipedia pine nut page currently summarises and has a few links to discussion groups where the effect is mentioned.
Now I eat pine nuts a lot (I am a veggie) and this is the first time this has happened. It is also the first time I have had ‘Baby’ pine nuts which were sold as being small. My theory is that these are actually a different species of pine nut. This would be fun to investigate.
What candidates do we have among commonly eaten pine nut species ( according to Wikipedia)
Pinus gerardiana, known as the Chilgoza Pine, ‘noosa’, or ‘neoza’, is a pine native to the northwestern Himalaya in eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwest India, growing at elevations between 1800-3350 m. It often occurs in association with Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana) and Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara).(Wikipedia) – This is a possible one. Are its seeds smaller than P. koraiensis I wonder?
Pinus koraiensis is Korean Pine. It is native to eastern Asia, Manchuria, far eastern Russia, Korea and central Japan. Korean Pine differs from the closely related Siberian Pine in having larger cones with reflexed scale tips, and longer needles. The seeds are extensively harvested and sold as pine nuts, particularly in northeastern China; it is the most widely traded pine nut in international commerce. – Very likely. (Wikipedia)
Pinus pinea Stone Pine (or Umbrella Pine) Native of Southern Europe in the Mediterranean region (Wikipedia) – not likely contender.
Pinus edulis Colorado Pinyon or Two-needle Pinyo is native to the United States and so not likely contender.
Pinus cembroides Mexican Pinyon – mexican so not likely to bother us.
Pinus monophylla Single-leaf Pinyon – USA native so not likely to bother us.
Looks like there are two contenders. Common things happen commonly so I have probably been eating P. koraiensis for years as it is the most commonly traded. Perhaps these new seeds are P. gerardiana?
I will investigate further.
You may also be related in a related blog post.
Comments are now closed on this post. You can read and explanation here.
1,515 Responses to “Bitter taste after eating for days – caused by pine nuts?”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Follow me on Twitter as rogerhyam
I also ate a handful of pine nuts on top of pesto pasta 2 nights ago, and last night I sat down to eat the most delicious looking pizza with my boyfriend, only to have the most disgusting taste in my mouth! At first, I thought maybe the plate hadn’t been wiped after it was washed and it was remnant of the washing detergent. With every bite I kept hoping it would improve (it looked so good!), but alas.. no cigar. I told him, but he said it tasted wonderful. Grr! I found the only things I could properly “taste” were really salted or highly-flavoured foods (I proceeded to eat a whole tray of sticky spare ribs
)
Just did a quick search on Google Insights for Search and saw this trend: http://www.google.com/insights/search/#geo=GB&q=bitter+mouth+taste&cmpt=qThere could be a number of reasons for the steady increase in complaints, but it does seem a bit odd. It sounds like almost every brand is causing this affect, so is it a pesticide problem or just something innate in pine nuts? Either way, I want my taste buds back!!!
Wow, thank you to everyone for your comments – I thought I was going mad! I ate some pine nuts in my meal on Saturday and have had an awful taste in my mouth ever since (It’s now Tuesday). This happened to me a few months ago, and only last night I was trying to remember what I thought triggered it last time. Pine nuts, who’d have thought it! The bag I bought is from Tesco (UK), well within the sell-by date, and freshly opened. I shall avoid them from now on, nasty little things!!
Oh my goodness – I have had the same experience too. Thought there was something wrong with me until I found this. It is quite frustrating as everything I eat tastes bitter and it is really ruining the fun of eating/drinking for me. We have been living in Chile for the last few years and have not had pinenuts so when I arrived in the US, I bought some pinenuts from Wholefoods and have been eating heaps of them. And yes, the bitter taste started not long after eating them. I ripped off the label so can’t check if they are from China. From what I have read from other posts it should goes away in a few days (as long as I get rid of the pinenuts of course), so here’s hoping…
I had pine nuts for the last 4 days, starting with a few nuts in the beginning to about a handful on the last day. Addicting to eat they are indeed because of their neutral taste and their touted health benefits. Now I have pine mouth too but I am not bothered at all. At least I know the bitterness will not cause one to die and I love to think of the wonderful anti-oxidants my body gets from munching these little seeds. I guess I worry more about not getting the bitterness of emotion caused by stress, hate and injustice, which is really harder to get rid of and live with. Have a good day all!
Same same, cant believe pinenuts cause this. Only things that taste good are the sour strip lollies the kids like. Our brand was a Sunbeam brand. Not happy Jan!!!!!
I have been eating pine nuts for about 2 weeks and noticed a bitter metallic taste after I eat anything now. When I told my wife, she said I must be nuts. HOW TRUE!! I went on Google and found out that it is the nuts! It’s really terrible. How long after you stop eating them does it go away? Need to know.
I made pesto sauce last Sunday with lots of pine nuts. Monday morning I had my usual breakfast of buttered toast and thought the butter was rancid. I was quite surprised that my lunch tasted rancid as well. It is now Wednesday night and everything still taste bitter and off. Wine is especially bad – yuck. I was very relieved to made the pine nut connection. Hopefully it will go away soon.
I ate pine nuts five days ago I also had them a few days before that bought at Morrisons, I have had a metalic taste after eating and drinking for three days now. These nuts were packed in the uk but does not declare which origin they come from. Thank you for the blog it has given me some peace of mind. How long does it last? does anyone have any idea?
I am too just recovering from a second bout of this dreadful metallic & bitter taste throughout my mouth. Last time it lasted 10 days & disappeared as fast as it came. My Doctor had no ideas how to help.On this occassion I had eaten pine nuts 2 days previously (purchased from Morrisons). I buy various nuts for my parrot from propper food shops & had eaten just a few 2 days earlier. All the same problems as the other people have written -it is truely horrible. I have taken the matter up with the Foods standards Agency who have requested that I e-mail their Toxicology Dept. with the details as they are looking into all these cases. I also spoke to our local Environmental Health Officer. Morrisons themselves showed little interest in what I told them & continued to have the pine nuts on sale. Holland & Barrett whom I believe are part of Julian Graves told me they are aware of the problem & have replaced their pine nuts with produce from Parkistan.
Strangly, I have a friend who buys these from Tesco & eats these on pesto but has had no problems as yet. Could it be that it is affecting certain people who have acid problems already?. Just a thought.
I have been eating crystalised ginger in between it helps a bit.
Shock, Horror! I had Asda pine nuts (various countries origin) in my Sunday dinner and on Tuesday I developed a really bitter taste in my mouth, like hairspray! Have it all the time, whether eating or not, and some food/drinks are disgusting to the palate. Now Thursday, 3 days on, still have it, so am trying sucking on pineapple pieces as it is a good cleanser of the palate. How long will this last? But thank you so much Roger Hyam for helping me to identify the cause.
Thanks GOD for the pine nuts, ’cause I was so scared about this horrible bitter taste!!
I live in California and I ate pine nuts two days ago with my husband and son, and is kind of weird ’cause I’m the only one with the problem, I still got a pound of pine nuts but I have decide no more pine nuts at home!!!
I hope this bitter taste goes away for good and good luck to everybody!!
I googled my symptoms as described but didn’t believe it was pine nuts. One reason is because I didn’t get the taste till 2 days later. Also, my friend didn’t get any symptoms. this is the second day and it’s still there. Thanks for all your comments.
Thank heavens I came across this email. Everything else seemed to point me down the pregancy route which was somewhat horrifying!! I had some Pine Nuts on a salad from Vital Ingredient in London on Monday and then Wednesday morning I had a cappucino and thought the milk was rancid and ever since this taste has developed and will not leave! I think I will be downing the good old Rooi Bos Tea and throw in some Green Tea for good measure. Surely this is quite a diabolical situation though that the food standards committee should know about?
@Lisa
Oh my goodness…I also had the pine nuts from Asda Whole foods range and have exactly the same experience. Like eating hairspray…that’s exactly how I described it to my family! I’ve never had pine nuts before (I’ve just turned vegi this week) and it’s put me off for life!
I’m so greatful to have found this site, like so many others, I was starting to worry something was wrong with me!
I’m suffering for the second time, I wrongly thought that the pesto I bought was the culprit but it was the pine nuts! I am BF my daughter and the first time I had the pine nut problem she had weird-smelling breath which I thought might be a symptom of diabetes. I took her to the GP and she said she thought she may be dehydrated. This time around it’s happened again. I’m sure it’s caused by the pine nuts and is not dehydration or diabetes. Can anyone shed any light on this?
This is incredible!
I have been eating raw pine nuts in my salad almost every day for the past couple of weeks (Tesco pine nuts). Then this morning, after my coffee I had a horrible bitter taste in my mouth. I figured I had made it too strong (instant) I had another coffee later in the morning and the taste got even worse, I could not believe that I had had two bad cups of coffee. Had my usual salad with pine nuts for lunch and taste improved. It came back. Diet Coke, water, green tea, Randoms, none got rid of the taste. So I Googled bitter taste, and just when I thought something was seriously wrong I found Pine Mouth! As relieved as I am, I am really hoping the taste doesn’t take 10 days to go!!
I bought my pine nuts in Dundee (South Road).
Hooray, looks like I’m not dying! Am in New Zealand and eat these often, bought from Pak and Sav. I woke up on Saturday with anything I eat causing nasty bitter taste. When I don’t eat it subsides. Had no other symptoms so puzzled, thank goodness I found your comments. Just checked my dodgy nuts I ate on Thursday night… smaller than usual, but tasted fine. Bought from bulk bin so unsure of country of origin. I guess this might be a great weight loss opportunity, it tastes like the varnish to stop nail biting!
Hi, I am from Australia and would like to echo the same, I also got a cheaper larger pack from Woolworths, and after 2 days of eating a handful the metallic bitterness after eating. Its driving me nuts on day 5 now.
I can’t enjoy tea coffee, good food. is China planning to slowly poison us with everythign they produce and handle?
I too am suffering from eating pine nuts…5 days ago I ate a salad covered in them at a local restaurant in Michigan, I am on my third day of this awful taste disturbance. I keep thinking the taste is fading, but alas, it’s not. The only thing bearable is coffee and salty corn chips, food generally tastes good for a second (while I’m chewing), but once I swallow, the rotten taste returns….I don’t think I’ll make it a week!
Wow, this is unbelievable! After suffering from this horrible bitter taste in my mouth whenever I ate anything, I finally googled and found this place. I originally thought it was the naprosyn I was taking for shoulder pain. I live in Southern California and bought these pine nuts at Ralph’s grocery…they are Mellissa’s brand imported from–yep–China.Too bad I just took my girlfriend to an expensive restaurant…everything tasted horrible to me (although she enjoyed her meal, and she had eaten some of the pesto I had made with the infected pine nuts the night before!). So this is gonna last how long? And would love to know if anyone has the FDA contact info for So. Cal.
OMG!! I thought maybe I had throat cancer. I got my pine nuts from Costco. Have eaten from the same bag for a while with no problem., but took a handful out of the freezer 2 weeks ago and think maybe there are some “mixed” destination nuts in the pack!
This taste WILL NOT go away! It is rancid, and whoever said hairspray is right!! Does anyone know if there are long term effects or problems from this? I have had the taste in the back of my throat for 2 weeks now and no improvement!
Can’t believe I found this out! Been trawling the internet thinking I’d got a rotten tooth or zinc poisoning but been eating pine nuts since last friday 5th feb – since then had bitter taste and five minutes after eating/drinking been saying porridge/coffee/ toast/everything had gone off! Symptoms are same as everyone else – subsides when not eating. Last ate pine nuts about 3 days ago so have ages yet – like others its driving me mad. Bought them in local health food store – will check out country of origin. Also bought a new pack from Tescos will check those out as well. May just give all of them to the wild birds so long as they dont end up the same as us! Wouldn’t wish it on anyone at this stage, having just had a cappucino and felling like I’ve drunk a can of hair spray.
I am so relieved at finding this site – had just diagnosed myself with a malignant brain tumour which was interfering with my taste zone! I’M NOT DYING. Morrison’s pine nuts have a lot to answer for. I too bought a bag of very small ones which were delicious. Ate only a few on Friday night and by Saturday coffee was like poison and now everything tastes horrible. Please go away soon!
Im suffering from this foul taste in my mouth after eating Pine nuts from Tesco three days ago. I had a feeling it was connected with the nuts.. but after having this foul taste for days I was begining to get a little worried.. After googling I initially found a few sites, connecting such tastes issues with liver problems and brain tumours, thankfully I soon found the “pine mouth” topics and felt relieved! My Tesco nuts where from China! Id like to know why this has happened and why it has been occuring for some time with nothing done regarding it! Im not looking forward to all my food tasting vile for more than a week!
This truly is amazing. I have also had a bitter taste in my mouth for days and was wondering what was wrong with me. I had a large salad with lots of pine nuts last week (in a restaurant so no idea where the pine nuts came from – but I guess it’s likely they came from China or at least Asia since I am in Australia). I also have a botanical background so was interested to read about the commonly eaten species, thanks for that. Anyway, no more pine nuts and I hope the bad taste will go away soon!
@Mira
I’m from Australia also and I got some pine nuts from Woolworths -I ate them yesterday, just a teaspoon full and every time I have eaten since I have this bitter taste ( at the back and sides of my tongue – must be where the “bitter” taste buds are!).Had another teaspoon just now before I found this site!!!! Will be throwing them in the BIN!
I’m female, aged 62, and, while searching to see whether the dreadful, bitter taste at the back of my mouth which appeared a week past Saturday might be due to hypertension medication or statin which I’m prescribed, I came across this site. Sure enough, thinking back, I remembered sprinkling a pine nut/seed mix on my salad two days before. Unfortunately I think the mix in question was probably past the use by date and that may be intensifying the problem. On Sunday it disappeared but returned yesterday. Like another contributor I wonder if either my age or medication might also be making the problem last so long.
I served a toasted pine nut topped salad on Saturday night. Had a little leftover for Sunday lunch. Monday morning I had the metallic/bitter taste. Can’t tell you how relieved I am to read these website comments because I thought something was seriously wrong with me. I bought the “Badia” brand packets of pinenuts (couldn’t find the Italian ones at the supermarket). Hope my guests aren’t experiencing this, …maybe I should ask. I’m really hoping this passes soon.
Had pine nuts eight days ago and the next day developed the horrible, bitter taste after eating. It hasn’t faded as of yet and it is driving me NUTS, lol. Even drinking water is awful! We bought the pine nuts in NE Ohio at a Giant Eagle. My husband and two year old also had some of the pine nuts but do not seem to be affected… of course, I ate more of them
Luckily, my breast fed five month old also has not seemed to experience any problems. Definitely not the first time I’ve eaten these, but the first time I’ve had this reaction. It really is terrible and I’m praying that the taste goes away in the next day or two. Why have I never heard about this before now?!?!
This is very interesting. I have been googling “bitter taste in mouth” for a couple of days now and just discovered your article. I thought maybe it was acid reflux. I have been having a bitter taste in my mouth for a couple of days now and had eaten pine nuts (organic) the other day. I wonder if this is related…so my question is….how do I get rid of it? Does it go away on its own?
Rebecca
Just a little note to continue from earlier. My pine nuts were also from China (Greenwise Organic). hmmmm?
I’m in Omaha, NE & I just started eating Pine Nuts in earnest & guess what; BITTER MOUTH! I’ve eaten pine nut quite often before & never had this happen. Could it possibly be some preservative that they started spraying or washing the nuts with?? I say though, isn’t the internet grand & especially Google!! They deserve a medal or some such. Hope it goes away soon YUK!! & hope their are no permanent side effects!!
this is crazy… i have the exact same symptoms as everyone here… two days after eating pine nuts (bought from bulk in south beach, miami) is this something that has been found to happen recently or what? scary… can’t wait til this taste goes away…
@Theresa
I have just had the same effect after eating two small handfuls of morrison’s pine nuts. thank you so much for your comments. lets hope it goes soon.
Same here!
@louise Hi Louise, saw you had read my comments. If you are interested, the e-mail address to send the details to the food standards agency who are gathering reports on this problem is: toxicology@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
good luck hope- you are feeling better soon
Theresa
We’re in Toronto, Ontario. Ate organic pine nuts 4 days ago that were packaged locally. Yesterday the symptoms started with a vengeance. I Will contact the company, maybe they should institute a recall. Although I’m never going to eat pine nuts again.
I have found that boiled shrimp and eggs are edible. And anything sweet like apples work for a while, yet after the bitterness remains for me all day. I’m wondering if there is any way to clean this stuff out of our systems faster. I will ask my friend who is trained in herbal remedies and see if she has any ideas. I’ll post them if she does.
@rebecca commons
Cannot believe this, 2 days after eating pine nuts, Bitter taste….
I took a look on the net after 3 days thinking i had a burst ulcer or something and can`t believe this !
Thanks to everyone
lee
Wow!
I was really getting worried that I had some strange disease. The bitter taste is awful especially after eating. I ate the Greenwise brand also bought at Publix. I hope this goes away soon.
I’ve eaten pesto quite a lot recently too. Yesterday everything started tasting really bitter and gross. its been the same all day today, i dont notice it so much until i eat or drink and its just awful. I love pesto and this is the 1st time this has happened to me. it’s kind of put me off the stuff a bit now, stupid pine nuts. this taste had better go away soon or i think im just going to go insane! although it’s a relief to know its probably nothing seriously wrong!
Me too! Now that I think of it, it all started after the bitter pine nuts – never occurred to me that it could be this.
OMG!!!!!
Thankgoodness thought I was going mad. I shall cancel the appointment with the doctors now. I have had the same metallic bitter taste for a week now and have had pine nuts twice bought from Asda. Its never happened before so the suppliers must be spraying them with something new. How horrible hope the taste goes soon and will be avoiding pine nuts from now on.
it tastes like the devil’s dick!
Ican’t believe it but the same has happened to me. I bought baby pinenuts from Julian Graves, usally get just pine nuts from Waitrose.
Since eating the babypinenuts have had this horrendous taste in mouth. Have been eating menthol sweets to get rid of it
Keep on it Jim! Seriously, the same thing happened to me as well. I have always eaten pine nuts without problems and about 4 days ago, ate some on pasta. I have had this terrible horrible taste in the back of my mouth which I thought was reflux.
Thanks for the info. Clearly it is not a concidence that we have all eaten pine nuts prior to this.
Again, anyone know how long this will last?
I normally buy Crazy Jacks Organic Pine Nuts and have them with my salad every day (being doing this for ages now), but suddenly I haven’t been able to buy the Crazy Jacks brand (anyone know why?). I did buy some of Waitrose own and quite suddenly developed the bitter taste that everyone else has described well (I’ve looked at the pack and they come from China). No more Pine Nuts for me – at least for now (shame, salads don’t taste as good without them).
Thank you for sharing this info!!!! Damn those pine nuts!!!!
From Croydon Vic, Australia my husband & I too have this problem from eating Pine Nuts 1 week ago. Horrific metallic/bitter taste, nausea, indegestion that won’t go away. Everything tastes like metal. It started the day after eating them. Unfortunately I had an extra handful of them the next day for a snack. Bought them from a local bulk food store(they are the smaller type of nut). Was at the point of seeing Dr. Can’t drink tea, coffee, milk, wine(bugger), can only taste some sweet foods (not good for my diet!). Thanks everyone for your tips on what to do. Will try them all. Maybe I’m not going mad after all! Will let the store I bought from know about this!
@Lynn
I have the same problem for two days now. And yes I also had pine nuts, bought from Tesco. Horrible horrible!!
My girlfriend had made a pesto sauce for some ravioli this week on Monday – and by Wednesday I had this incredibly awful metallic lingering acrid taste in the back of my throat. Everything I’ve eaten since has this taste mixed in with it, and it is incredibly frustrating.
I tried using baking soda mixed with water (gargled, and swallowed) and it didn’t help at all. (I had read somewhere that this helps remove the bitter after taste). Does anyone have any suggestions or short remedies they can suggest for this “taste disturbance?” This is ridiculous that this is so un-noticed by the general populace!