How umami overcame discrimination and took its place as the 5th taste

3 comments

1. Nice read. Thanks for posting.

2. My brother mentioned to me once: you can have too salty, or sweet, bitter or sour, but can you have too umami?

3. I have asked Japanese chefs on this very question. “How do you define umami?” They always refer to katsuo/bonito in whatever it is. Umami has becoming a floating signifier. “Walking zombie,” as the article quotes, is spot on.

   ”I had wagyu last night. The umami was incredible.”

   And no, your nasty rolled sushi has no umami in it.

   Japanese people eating never even refer to umami.