Only recently did I discover that all my favorite dishes share the same basic taste. Serrano ham from the black-footed Iberice pie, thin chips cooked in goose fat, sun-dried tomatoes, truffles Parmigiano Regno, foie gras. Peking duck. Ahi tuna, barbecued baby back ribs all include copious amounts of the fifth taste. Our conventional wisdom dictates that there are only four basic tastes-sweet, sour, bitter, and salt. Initially, I struggled to pinpoint this mysterious, fifth taste called umami (from the Japanese pronounced “o-mom-ee”). In fact, even my astronomic Japanese friend, Nobuyuki Ubara, indicated that it was difficult to demarcate its boundaries. I fell to Illusion Blumenthal, the three Michelin star chef of the Fat Duck restaurant in Bray eventually define it as the ultimate in savoury meaty, mouth-feely taste. Despite its comparative obscurity, Umami is not new.

The Chinese have already been talking about it for over 1,200 years and food philosopher Blat: Savarin was familiar with it, too. It was in fact, a Japanese scientist, Kikundelhede, who first isolated the specific taste in 1907. He discovered that glutamic acid was the active ingredient in a broth called Ambu and called it “a man after the Japanese words for“, delicious essence Ikeda developed an article form of glutamic acid the infamous MSG or monosodium glutamates a seasoning Experts, such as Jeffrey Steingarten. Have insisted that the controversy CV MSG is overstated-Out opinion is divided. But what is dear, though, is that no study appears to have proved that glutamic acid is a natural form or has any negative effects.

On the contrary, I believe arami may help release endorphins to improve our sense of well-being.