Final answer:
A taste for specific foods, such as cooked octopus, is often acquired through cultural exposure and the environment more than being an innate preference. Early and repeated exposure to certain foods within one's family and cultural practices plays a significant role in shaping taste preferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The taste of cooked octopus is indeed an acquired one. The question of whether a taste for particular foods is something you are born with or something you acquire from your family and culture is debatable. However, it is widely acknowledged that taste preferences can be influenced by both genetic factors and the environment in which one is raised.
While certain aspects of taste can be innate, such as the universal human preference for sweetness, many taste preferences are learned and shaped by cultural practices and experiences. For instance, if a child is frequently exposed to cooked octopus in a community where it's a traditional dish, they are more likely to develop a liking for it.
In contrast, someone from a culture where octopus is not regularly consumed may find the taste unfamiliar and less palatable. Therefore, a taste for specific foods, like cooked octopus, may not necessarily be innate but can be strongly influenced by cultural exposure and repeated experiences with those foods.