Reading tastes like dough with a bit of butter

These taste based revelations have come to light following a Chronicle investigation with James Wannerton, Head of Synaesthesia UK.

Mr Wannerton has Lexical-gustatory synaesthesia, a neurological condition whereby tastes are experienced when words are heard.

Each time the Blackpool resident hears, reads or thinks about a word, he tastes it in his mouth.

Mr Wannerton, who has made television programmes about the condition with the BBC and Channel 4, has now turned his sensory powers to Reading.

“The first time I came to Reading I went to the festival,” said Mr Wannerton.

“When I was there and when I think about being there, I get a very pleasing taste of dough in my mouth.”

Although taste impressions differ from lexical-gustatory synaesthesiac to lexical-gustatory synaesthesiac, Mr Wannerton will taste the same thing each time he hears a particular word for his entire life.

Berkshire, for example, tastes like a pleasant frozen beef burger. West Berkshire however, is a rather unpleasant combination of beef burger and brittle chocolate.

Reading West MP Alok Sharma appears as a curious combination of Garibaldi biscuits and cream soda, unlike Reading East MP Rob Wilson, who is a strawberry jam sandwich served with toffee.

Tony Page, the council's transport firebrand, does not fare so well.

“When I hear Tony Page I taste dessicated coconut and sausage sandwich,” explained Mr Wannerton.

“Not a nice experience at all.”

While some of the taste impressions derive from the lexical composition of the corresponding word, such as the sandy taste of Castle Street, others reflect an emotional reaction forged in the formative years.

Whether Get Reading, a weak, lemon wafer biscuit, and The Reading Chronicle, vinegar from a jar of pickles, are born from such an association, is unknown.