Image via Unsplash by Merch Husey
Writing an entire cookbook despite having little or no sense of taste seems a near-impossible task – but that’s exactly what some inspiring cancer patients have done, and now, that very book is up for multiple awards. The Velindre Cookbook features recipes for people whose taste buds have changed due to chemotherapy and also features families’ intimate memories of mealtimes during the treatment phases.
Image via Unsplash by Tracey Hocking
One of the lesser known side effects of chemotherapy treatment is the potential loss of taste buds. Former cancer patient and inspiration for the book, Angharad Jones, was treated with chemotherapy in 2014, resulting in dramatic changes to her taste buds. She was unable to detect flavour in most things, but was, however, still able to taste her homemade blackcurrant jam.
Image via Creative Commons
The strong, zingy flavour of the jam made it a recurring ingredient throughout Angharad’s treatment and one which she created several recipes using. Five months after the end of her treatment, Angharad’s sense of taste was back to normal, and now her story and one of her recipes are shared in the Velindre Cookbook.
Image by Velindre Cookbook
Compiled by Ceri Harris of Velindre Trust, a cancer care unit in Wales, the book features recipes and tips which aim to help patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment and experiencing changes to their taste buds. It’s already raised over £10,000 (87,000 RMB) for Velindre Cancer Care and is now shortlisted for the Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Macau on 3rd July.