What is umami?

Umami is one of the five basic tastes, alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It is often described as a savory, meaty, or broth-like flavor that leaves a lasting, mouth-coating sensation on the tongue.

The word comes from Japanese (umai, meaning "delicious") and was identified as a distinct taste by chemist Kikunae Ikeda in 1908. He discovered that the taste is primarily triggered by glutamate, an amino acid, as well as certain nucleotides found in many foods.

You can find umami naturally in a variety of foods, including:

• Aged cheeses (like Parmesan)
• Meats and poultry
• Seafood
• Mushrooms
• Tomatoes
• Fermented products like soy sauce, miso, and kimchi

Because umami is associated with protein-rich foods, it is often seen as a signal from our bodies that we are consuming essential nutrients.