Accounts of the Taste
Pork: Many cannibals, including German serial killer Armin Meiwes, have described human flesh as tasting similar to pork, though some noted it might be slightly more bitter or acidic. Historically, human meat was sometimes sold on the black market as pork in 1920s Germany.
Veal: American journalist William Buehler Seabrook, who claimed to have eaten a piece of human meat in the 1930s (obtained from a hospital), described it as being very similar to "good, fully developed veal" - mild, good meat with no other sharply defined taste.
Other Comparisons: Some accounts have compared it to beef due to its reddish color and similar muscle fibers, while others have mentioned lamb. One Syrian rebel described it as tasting "just like chicken," especially the liver.
Scientific and Other Perspectives
Aroma vs. Taste: One BBC host had a muscle biopsy taken and cooked (though not consumed, as cannibalism is illegal in the UK), and the aroma was described as a rich, beefy smell, similar to a "lamb and ale stew". Aroma makes up a large portion of the flavor experience. The idea that human flesh tastes like chicken is a common saying, but most accounts from convicted cannibals and scientific analyses suggest it more closely resembles pork or veal. Human flesh is often referred to as "long pig" in some historical accounts due to this perceived similarity.