B1 · Intermediate · Tasting · 177 words · ~2 min read

🍞 The Taste Test

Language focus: Describing taste · expressing preferences

The Secret Recipe of Borough Market

Back in the kitchen, Nadia tried out the spiced glaze for the very first time. She followed the instructions to the letter, warming the honey and folding in the fragrant spices until the whole bakery smelled exactly like her childhood.

The first loaf, sadly, didn’t turn out well — the glaze had gone off because the honey had been far too hot. The second attempt was noticeably better. By the third, the crust gleamed like amber and the kitchen filled with a rich, deeply spiced aroma.

She offered a warm slice to Tom, the friendly young man from the cheese stall. He took a single bite and slowly closed his eyes. “Oh, Nadia, that’s incredible — it practically melts in your mouth.” She could have cried with sheer joy.

“Mind you, some people might find the spice a little strong,” he admitted with a grin. “It’s a bit of an acquired taste. But honestly? It’s the best thing I’ve eaten all year.” For the first time in months, Nadia dared to believe the bakery might genuinely survive.

Key vocabulary (6 words)

glazenoun
A shiny liquid coating brushed over food.
fragrantadjective
Having a pleasant, sweet smell.
crustnoun
The hard outer part of a loaf of bread.
aromanoun
A pleasant, noticeable smell.
slicenoun
A thin, flat piece cut from something.
surviveverb
To continue to exist or stay alive.

Phrasal verbs in this episode

  • try out — To try out means to test or experiment with something.
  • turn out — To turn out means to have a particular result.
  • go off — To go off means (of food) to become bad and no longer fresh.

Comprehension quiz

  1. What does Nadia try out?

    • The spiced glaze
    • A new oven
    • A delivery van
    Show answer

    The spiced glaze

  2. Why did the first loaf fail?

    • The glaze went off — the honey was too hot
    • She forgot the flour
    • The oven broke
    Show answer

    The glaze went off — the honey was too hot

  3. “Melts in your mouth” describes food that is…

    • soft and tender
    • frozen solid
    • burnt
    Show answer

    soft and tender

  4. “An acquired taste” is something you…

    • learn to like over time
    • hate forever
    • taste once
    Show answer

    learn to like over time

  5. “Go off” (of food) means to…

    • become bad
    • explode
    • taste sweeter
    Show answer

    become bad

  6. How does Tom react to the bread?

    • He loves it
    • He spits it out
    • He is bored
    Show answer

    He loves it

All 20 B1 episodes

More graded reading & practice