umami

Definitions

One of the five basic tastes, the savory taste of foods such as seaweed, cured fish, aged cheeses and meats.

uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Umami is the mysterious “fifth taste⟳”—a flavour that has never seemed to fit into the existing categories of sweet, sour, salty and bitter. South-east Asian chefs have⟳ exploited it throughout history—it's an essential part of the taste⟳ of seaweed, among other things[…]”

“But we are, of course, sweaty, fleshy lady-animals – all fur and umami.”

“A few types of molecules get⟳ sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get⟳ received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set⟳ off their own⟳ neural cascades.”

“I quickly realized that I have⟳ always been obsessed with umami; I just didn't know⟳ it. It's why a sprinkle of Parm on just about anything heightens that dish's flavor; it's why grilled smoky mushrooms taste⟳ so good. Umami is a deeply satisfying taste⟳, and luckily for us, umami is everywhere—it's in tomatoes and soy sauce, fresh and dried mushrooms, aged cheese, nutritional yeast […]”

CEFR level