Umami

The West identifies four basic tastes—sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. Yet in East Asia, a fifth taste—umami—has entered the culinary lexicon. Umami is savory, complex, and wholly distinct. Combining culinary history with research into the chemistry, preparation, nutrition, and culture of food, this book encapsulates the concept of umami.

Occidentul identifica patru gusturi de baza: acru, dulce, sarat si amar. Cu toate acestea, in Asia de Est, un al cincilea gust - umami - a intrat in lexicul culinar.