Prefers to incorporate a number of tastes (8)
I believe the answer is:
flavours
'tastes' is the definition.
(I know this)
'prefers to incorporate a number' is the wordplay.
'prefers' becomes 'favours' ('favour' can be a synonym of 'prefer').
'to incorporate' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a number' becomes 'L' (fifty in Roman numerals).
'favours' placed around 'l' is 'FLAVOURS'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for flavours that I've seen before include "Tastes" , "Taste experiences" , "Sensations perceived when eating or drinking" .)