Taste Changes Taste Changes

Taste Changes

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A-Z of Symptoms

Taste Changes

Cancer treatments and some medications can change the way that food and drinks taste.

You might find that your taste is heightened or reduced with bitter, sour, salty, unami or sweet tastes. A dry mouth can also cause changes to your taste making food less enjoyable.

Changes to your taste can be temporary or longer-term depending on the cause. It is important to try a range of food and drinks including those you would not normally eat or drink as these unfamiliar foods or drinks may be well tolerated.

Try experimenting with new flavours. Often people who have favoured sweet foods for example may prefer savoury food and drink during treatment. Your taste may continue to change, it is important that you re-try foods and drinks that you have previously disliked to help increase variety.

Some people develop oral thrush during treatment, it is usually recognised as being a white coating on the tongue. Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth which is usually successfully treated with prescribed antifungal medication such as Nystatin or Fluconazole. Oral thrush may cause taste changes as described below. Please discuss with your healthcare team if you think you have oral thrush.

Try some of these alternatives to help with the taste changes you are experiencing;

My concern

What can I do about it?

Examples include
Foods taste sweet

Choose savoury foods

Add something bitter

Cream cheese on oatcakes, toast and eggs

Pickle, Worcestershire sauce
I have a metallic taste in my mouth

Change the type of utensils you use

Avoid foods from tins and juices from cans

Try plastic cutlery and glass or ceramic cooking dishes

Choose fresh, frozen or packet foods and drinks

 
Foods taste bland

Try citrus flavoured food and drinks or squeeze citrus flavours on to meat, fish, use in stir-fry or curry (be cautious if you have a sore mouth or ulceration)

Add flavour to potatoes or vegetables with

  
  • Lemon drizzle cake
  • Lemon biscuit
  • Mandarin yoghurt
  • Orange sorbet
  • Lime jelly
  • Pineapple chunks
  • Bacon
  • Onion
  • Ham
  • Mint sauce
  • Mustard
  • Garlic and herbs

Food tastes bitter

Choose sweet foods

Try adding something sweet

Try adding herbs

 

Naturally sweet foods include; turnip, sweet potato, sweetcorn, red or yellow peppers, cranberry, apple

Teaspoon of honey or sugar to sauces, chocolate spread on to toast, pancake or crumpet

Basil or mint
I've gone off tea and coffee

Add more or less milk, sugar or sweeteners

Try cool drinks 

Note: if you are receiving a chemotherapy medication called oxaliplatin be mindful that this can cause cold sensitivity - avoid very cold foods and drinks.

 

Try other warm drinks

 

  • Flavoured water
  • Fresh fruit juice
  • Add blackcurrant, mint or elderflower cordial to water or fizzy juice
  • Milky drinks

 

  • Hot chocolate
  • Milk
  • Latte or coffee drink flavoured with cinnamon or ginger
  • Herbal Tea

 

Add a sauce with a distinct taste to meals

  • Mustard
  • Barbeque
  • Garlic and herb
  • Sweet and sour
  • Salsa
  • Peppercorn
  • Curry sauce
  • Chutney
  • Salad dressing

Season meat, fish, potatoes or vegetables

  • Marinades
  • Lemon
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Parsley
  • Garlic
  • Vinegar
  • Mustard
  • Honey
  • Lemon
  • Coriander
  • Basil
  • Mint
  • Chilli
  • Curry powder

Be cautious trying acidic flavours if you have ulceration as this could irritate and increase pain in your mouth

 

Add flavour to pasta, rice, potatoes or vegetables

Cook in a flavoured stock

  • Beef
  • Ham
  • Vegetable
  • Chicken

Steam or grill vegetables

You can lose a lot of flavour from vegetables in to the water through the boiling process. Steaming or grilling will keep more of the flavour

Tips

Keep your mouth clean

Sip water between mouthfuls of food and thicker drinks, such as milk, to clear any coating left in the mouth.

Check your mouth regularly and let your healthcare professional know if you have changes or problems with your mouth or tongue. This includes white spots, red or swollen areas or ulceration.

Avoid smoking

Amongst other risks, smoking changes the way you taste and smell. It alters the blood supply to your taste buds affecting the way they work. Your taste buds can recover if you stop smoking.

For more information and support on cutting down or stopping smoking visit ‘Quit Your Way Scotland’.

Medications

A lowered immune system can make you more likely to get an infection in your mouth. This can change how food or drinks taste.

You can be given mouthwashes, medications and gels to treat.