What Does Cum Taste Like? Trust Us, We Know

Blowjobs are the bread and butter of sex for many of us. Even the nastiest kinksters like to fill up on some good old-fashioned oral before the main course is served. But if you think you're ready to go down, you might want to be prepared for what comes up — cum.

If you're fresh on the scene or just curious about it, you might have some hesitation when faced with the prospect of swallowing. What does cum taste like? Will I like it? Is it warm? What if I fill up on free breadsticks before? These are all valid questions and ones you can quickly alleviate with some trial-by-fire (meaning, go give some head and experience it yourself).

We’ll be honest: It's unlikely seminal fluid will become your favorite snack (it’s more of a side dish, anyway). But that doesn't mean sperm can't become an acquired taste — and one you can easily acquire, at that. If you aren't ready to give it a go yourself, let this visceral and detailed guide help you prepare for your first serving of sperm so you can avoid a spit-or-swallow game-time decision. Soon, you’ll be a cum connoisseur.

Cum and get it

Cum is kind of like wine: Regardless of how cute the label is, there's no real way of knowing what you're getting until you've tried it for yourself. Many lifestyle factors can impact how someone’s ejaculate tastes. But foreplay fondue still has a baseline flavor profile, so we’ll help you get a general idea of what your palate can expect post-ejaculation.

Warning: Contents under pressure

Before we go into more detail, let's first address the force at which you'll get this flavor in your mouth. Don't be surprised if your partner's vas deferens unload multiple tablespoons into the back of your throat (especially if you enhance the experience with some sex toy stimulation). That's a pretty good sign things are going well; a drained dick is a happy dick, after all.

But being caught off-guard by how fast the cum comes can be a bemusing experience, so brace yourself for impact, much like you would if you're going down a waterslide or eating a custard-filled donut.

Tasting notes from semen sommeliers

Now, onto the actual taste. Most would agree that semen has a salty taste — borderline briny — but not excessively so. Some say ejaculate is bitter, but this could depend on the spunker's diet and isn't indicative of the flavor you'll lap up in any given load. Some even assert that eating things like broccoli could make your cum taste like chlorine.

Health conditions and medications can also alter the way semen tastes. Whatever the taste, it depends on the splooge’s pH — how acidic or alkaline it is. Adjusting the acidity level can make the difference between a delicacy and a load that tastes like a frozen TV dinner.

Vagina havers might want to tap into some of this advice as well, since this guide could theoretically help you adjust the alkalinity of any bodily fluid.

From his glans to your olfactory glands: How does semen smell?

Smell is intrinsically tied to taste, so what does cum smell like? Even if you're ejaculating regularly yourself, this is a valid question. You're likely used to your specific spunk funk. Semen is mostly water, so many won't smell what their partner's seminal vesicle is cooking at all. If you do, it'll probably also have a salty or musky smell. Just don’t let it sit around too long, or it’ll really start to stink.

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Is swallowing safe?

It’s just like swallowing a watermelon seed; nothing's gonna start growing in your tummy. You'll be glad to know swallowing a person's seed is generally regarded as safe, although there are some specific caveats.

The first is a rare allergy to the proteins found in semen that could cause a reaction. This allergy is called seminal plasma hypersensitivity, and it's not something you'll likely need to worry about. Still, it can't hurt to talk to your doctor if you notice any funny business when you're getting down to business and ejaculation consumption is involved.

The primary reason you might want to think before you drink relates to sexually transmitted infections. Oral sex can spread many STIs, including HIV (although this is rare). Discuss your sexual health with your partner (or partners!) before engaging in sexual activity, even oral, and be wary of any risk factors for passing on or receiving STIs, such as if someone has an open sore on their lips or in their mouth.

Finally, swallowing someone's sperm is mostly a safe practice, but that doesn't mean it has to be on the menu. If you're reading this and feeling you'd rather pass on the extra gravy, you shouldn't feel pressured to do otherwise. Do whatever feels right for you. You can always ask your partner to save his spunk for the main course — intercourse!

Things that make cum taste different

The jury's still out on whether diet and other adjustments can alter the way your orgasm tastes, scientifically speaking. But there's some pretty good anecdotal evidence, and it can't hurt to try if you're aching for more flavorful fluids. Here are some suggestions that could lead to some member-licking blowjobs in your future.

Pineapple

You’ve probably heard tales of pineapple as a cure for overly savory spunk. But what does pineapple do to your sperm? Legend has it that the sugars from fruits, like pineapple, can offset the bitter qualities of ejaculate, giving it a sweeter, more pleasant flavor.

There's also been some reported luck with papayas and oranges. Snacking on fresh fruit or having a glass of pineapple juice is a delicious solution for all involved.

Cinnamon

There's more than one way to spice up a BJ. Yes, the calling card of pumpkin spice bois across the nation has some sexual merit to it; cinnamon and nutmeg can both make sex a bit spicier in the flavor department. It's not going to turn your salty jizz into a mulled Christmas wine or anything, but it could cut through the bitter notes and add some festivity to your average blowjob.

Celery

Celery was probably the one you didn't see coming, but it could be one you taste cumming. Celery, parsley, and wheatgrass all have fresh, zingy qualities that can alleviate some of the funkier, metallic flavors of sperm by making it less alkaline. Anything with vitamin C can also kick some of that saltiness to the curb, and celery fits the bill.

Alcohol and tobacco

You know we'd eventually have to mention what makes your cum taste worse so you can avoid it.

If your partner has a penchant for the strong stuff, your cumshot face might be the same as your tequila-shot face. Many say certain liquors can make cum taste sour or bitter, although beer and wine seem to have less of an impact. Rumor has it tobacco has a similar effect, amplifying the pungent or acrid flavors in a given load and giving it a less desirable odor.

Meat and dairy products

Some say meat and dairy products are some of the biggest culprits of bitter, musky ejaculate. This could be an excellent place to cut back if you're worried about having overly potent spunk. Again, this is all anecdotal evidence, so there's no need to go vegan for oral sex. But if you have indeed had some complaints, leave out the meat course before intercourse.

Hygiene

We mentioned earlier how important smell is with taste. Well, an unsavory body odor could taint the taste of your ejaculate. For the best chance of an enjoyable head-bobbing experience, wash yourself before you have sex — it'll help in every way, provided your partner isn't getting off on the idea of a musky, natural scent.

Health conditions

This point is interesting because it applies to both the taster and the one being tasted. The concentration of ingredients in semen can shift depending on a person's health condition, especially if they take certain medications.

The same could go for those who ingest the semen, as certain conditions, like respiratory or ear infections, can alter the way you perceive the flavor. That's something for all our swallowers to keep in mind (and mouth) when they're mulling over the tasting notes of their partner’s splooge.

Nut-thin can stop you now

Now that you know how to make your cum taste better and why your partner’s might taste a certain way, you and your ejaculate are ready to engage in some fresh-tasting fellatio! You’ve got the info to ensure an enjoyable experience for your favorite swallower (or advice to pass on to your beef-jerky-eating boyfriend), even if some mildly tastier splooge isn't getting anyone a Michelin star.

It's time for you to rustle up some grub with Grindr! Download the Grindr app for iOS or Android, or view your local tasting menu hands-free using Grindr Web. You're bound to find someone out there offering free samples.