UMAMI
Wild Word Friday!
Did you know that in addition to the commonly known tastes of sweet, sour, bitter and salty, human taste buds can distinguish one more taste? That taste was identified in 1908 by a professor at the Tokyo Imperial University, and he named it UMAMI. UMAMI, a Japanese word, means pleasant savory taste.
We can taste foods that contain UMAMI because our taste buds – every one of them, by the way – can discern L-glutamate, an amino acid that gives us that UMAMI flavor. For many of us, our first acquaintance with the UMAMI flavor came in our mother’s breast milk. Other foods that contain UMAMI include: tomatoes, mushrooms, soy sauce, fish, cured meats, green tea, spinach, and aged cheeses.
According to Wikipedia authors, “UMAMI has a mild but lasting aftertaste difficult to describe. It induces salivation and a sensation of furriness on the tongue.” According to food scientists, UMAMI is a good flavor enhancer for low-salt foods.
Of the five flavors – sweet, salty, bitter, sour and UMAMI – which is your favorite? I’m afraid I have to choose that old standard, sweet!
Blessings!
Sue
(Some information from Wikipedia and the December 2010 Discover Magazine, “20 Things You Don’t Know About Taste.” Photo from Wikipedia.)
hi Sue,
My favorite flavor is Unami, I love the lingering flavor of cheese crystals on my tongue and the inside of my cheeks, I love savory “earthy” flavors.
Sour, bitter and salty are also on my favorite list.
The funny thing is that my youngest daughter loves to drink SOUR buttermilk, eat and lick SOUR lemons and limes, sprinkle salt on her meals and likes BITTER brussel sprouts.
I guess we both love the strong flavors in food.
I like a variety of taste sensations, although UMAMI isn’t one of them. If I had to pick just one, it would be SALTY. My favourite nibblies are chips and popcorn.
Your daughter intrigues me, Jackie! I love the way you describe the Unami flavor. I need to rethink. Maybe that will be my favorite, too!!
You must be related to my husband, Carol. He loves salty, too!