umami

[oo-mah-mee]

noun

1. a strong meaty taste imparted by glutamate and certain other amino acids: often considered to be one of the basic taste sensations along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of umami¹

First recorded in 1960–65; from Japanese: literally, “savory quality, delicious taste,” equivalent to uma-, the inflectional stem of umai “(to be) delicious” + -mi, a suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives

Example Sentences

Creamy, sweet and packed with umami, this cheese is absolutely delectable crumbled in your favorite salads and paired with fresh fruits and preserved meats.

From Salon

“When researchers consider the classic five categories of taste — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami — there’s little disagreement over which of them is the least understood,” wrote Katherine J. Wu for The Atlantic.

From Salon

“Creatures crave sweet for sugar and calories. A yen for umami, or savoriness, keeps many animals nourished with protein. Salt’s essential for bodies to stay in fluid balance, and for nerve cells to signal. And a sensitivity to bitterness can come in handy with the whole not-poisoning-yourself thing.”

From Salon

This step is crucial for developing the tea's signature "umami" flavour - a savoury taste that complements its natural sweetness.

From BBC

“The Nasty Bits” A collection of essays and stories from his travels, organized by taste — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami.

From Salon