How the Manna Tasted Different to Each Israelite in the Desert

The nations of the world were not able to taste the manna, for in their mouths it was like bitter sinews. And what would they do? They would hunt a deer that had drunk of it, and they would taste from it the flavor of the manna, and they would say: Happy is the nation that has such a thing! Rabbi Yose bar Hanina said: It is not the case that just as the old man tastes of it, so the children taste it. How so? The children would taste in it the taste of milk, as it is said, "And its taste was like the taste of cake baked in oil" (Numbers 11:8). And the young men would taste in it like honey, as it is said, "And its taste was like a wafer made with honey" (Exodus 16:31). And the old men would taste in it like bread, as it is said, "Behold, I am about to rain down for you bread from the heavens" (Exodus 16:4). And the sick person would taste it like fine flour mixed with oil and honey, like that barley-gruel which they make for a sick person, as it is said, "And they cooked it in a pot" (Numbers 11:8). And from where do we know that there was in it the taste of fine flour and honey? As it is said, "And My bread which I gave you—fine flour and oil and honey, etc." (Ezekiel 16:19). Each and every one would taste in it according to his strength. Whoever was diligent would go out and gather it from the field, as it is said, "And the people shall go out and gather" (Exodus 16:4). And the middling ones would go out to the entrance of their tents [and gather]. And the lazy would lie about, and they would stretch out their hands, and it would come down into their hands, as it is said, "And the layer of dew went up, etc." (Exodus 16:14). [Fine, flaky] (ibid.).