A Taste of Home

Care packages are a universal love language and a way for families to stay connected across distances. We unbox four from China, India, Ireland and the Philippines, each filled with the tastes, textures and memories of home. In Newton-le-Willows, content creator Aurora unwraps a parcel from her mother in China revealing fragrant spices, dried mushrooms and handmade gifts as a reminder of her native traditions. In Cardiff, dancer Ishika shares a tightly sealed batch of homemade bori, sun-dried lentil dumplings prepared and packed by her cousins in India. Over in Liverpool, full-time mum Sarah introduces us to a selection of snacks pulled from her Nanny's cabinet in Ireland for a mix of nostalgia, sweetness and comfort that bridges generations. In Norwich, multidisciplinary artist Sha opens a package from her mum in the Philippines filled with dried mangoes and polvoron, a crumbly, sugary treat that melts in your mouth and warms the heart. Each of them shares how these packages, sent with care and packed with love, offer more than just food. They’re a connection to family, culture, belonging and the best remedy for homesickness.

Presented and produced by Jay Behrouzi Executive Producer Richard McIlroy A BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4