Whether attending a formal banquet or having a quick bite to eat before a duty shift, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to food. One common issue with food in the 24th century seems to be the inferior taste some people feel replicated food has. At first glance it would seem that there wouldn’t be any noticeable difference between the two. This doesn’t stop some people from replacing replicated meals with dishes made from authentic ingredients whenever they can. On the other hand others couldn’t even tell the difference between two dishes, one fresh and one replicated. A topic of even more debate seems to be synthehol. While it is supposed to mimic the taste of alcohol without any of the downsides, others find its taste unpleasant.

The question of real or replicated often comes down to a simple matter of taste. Either the difference makes the extra effort worth it or the convenience of a replicator wins out over any potential difference in quality. Where does your character stand on this issue? Can they even tell the difference or would they prefer the real stuff every time?

Does your character prefer food and drinks made fresh or replicated?