What is umami and MSG? - The Food Chain podcast, BBC World Service

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Sweet, sour, salty, bitter and... umami. Have you heard of the fifth taste?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
Umami, meaning "delicious flavour" in Japanese, was discovered by a chemist in Japan in 1908, but it took nearly 100 years for it to be recognised as a fifth distinct taste by scientists. It is described by many as a savoury or meaty flavour.
In this programme, Ruth Alexander learns about the chemist who first discovered umami, and the industrially produced version he created - monosodium glutamate, or MSG. It’s a food additive that’s been the subject of health scares, but today it’s one of the most tested additives in our food and is considered to be safe for consumption.
Yukari Sakamoto, trained chef and food tour leader in Tokyo, explains how umami features in Japanese cuisine. She says miso soup is one of the best examples of maximum umami flavour. Professor Barry Smith, Director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses in the UK, explains the science behind umami and MSG. Calvin Eng, chef and owner of Bonnie’s restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, is one of a number of chefs trying to rehabilitate MSG’s reputation - he uses it not just in savoury dishes, but also desserts and drinks.
0:00 The origins of umami
4:47 Scientists confirm a fifth taste
6:54 More sources of umami
9:37 The history of MSG
14:23 Cooking with MSG
19:04 MSG on the menu
22:53 Is MSG staging a comeback?
Check out more podcasts and videos to do with food here 👉🏽 • Food & drink
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
Presented by Ruth Alexander. Produced by Beatrice Pickup.
More from The Food Chain: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p028...
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#BBCWorldService #WorldService #umami #senses #food #TheFoodChain #msg

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7 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 159

@pynn1000 2 месяца назад

Thank you, BBC. Yes, I and the few people I sometimes feed have heard of the "fifth" taste, umami. THANK YOU for your free content.

@MrKhankab Месяц назад

The only thing controversial about msg, is how it was used to target Asian foods. No clinical tests or anything. Just a "chinese restaurant" syndrome.

@kankanueyama1005 Месяц назад

Both my Japanese parents lived their entire life eating MSG, starting as soon as they had their first tooth grown. They lived till their 80’s. I am leading the same life, taking MSG almost every day and my annual physical examination showing nothing wrong. I don’t understand why some people are so fussy about MSG. Any food could be poisonous if you have it by excessive amount. By the way, Japanese umami is extracted from seaweed and/or fish, just like the broth from chicken or beef or vegetables. My understanding is that the food companies like Ajinomoto made it handy, just like Knorr making chicken broth cube. We use at our home Knorr for western cuisine and Ajinomoto for Japanese cuisine:) To us, the chicken broth is also “umami, in other words, Japanese word “umami” is a common noun and represents anything that gives a pleasurable and interesting punch to your tongue, or to things or matters when used as a metaphor. In that sense, we call too MSG “umami.”

@ksoosk Месяц назад

True. Even water is also poison if drink too much.

@jaskeda Месяц назад

I think you got used to eat it. If i eat takeout Chinese foods, i got thirsty and my lower back hurt and tired even they are low in sodium

@MrKhankab Месяц назад

@jaskeda you just have shifty chinese take out. Cook with msg once. And you won't get ang of those effects.

@yummychips_ 29 дней назад

@@jaskeda That's bull shit. It isn't a getting use to thing. Have you ever had grilled cheese? Did you have to get use to the cheese? How about a hamburger, did you have to get use to that? What about sugar in soda, did you need to learn to drink soda? You are either ordering from a bad Chinese restaurant that over uses salt, or you are eating portions that are not meant for 1 person. If you are ordering take out, I highly suspect you are eating portions for more than 1 person. Sorry if im coming in hot, I am tired of seeing comments like yours that is just pure anectdotal bullshit. Im hard projecting ever since I saw that bullshit tedtalk with the lady who says she stopped giving her child MSG to fix autism.

@user-di6cn2ne7u 23 дня назад

@@jaskeda You'd most likely fall under the category of people they discussed, where the side effects don't happen when you don't know about the msg. It occurs naturally in things like tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms. If the msg made your back hurt, those foods would as well 🙂. That doesn't mean your back doesn't hurt, just means your impacted by placebo/nocebo!

@boeingpameesha9550 2 месяца назад

Thank you for sharing.

@00ta 2 месяца назад

I'm glad to hear that British people discovered the umami taste, really.

@pynn1000 2 месяца назад

British people like umami. "Savoury" or "tasty" roughly correspond in marketspeak.

@flowerflower1154 Месяц назад

As one of Japanese who loves umami, please don't involve the British. It ruins the taste.

@BBCWorldService 2 месяца назад

Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM

@yengsabio5315 26 дней назад

I just subscribed! Cheers & mabuhay, from my end--the Philippines!

@jo16431 Месяц назад

MSG is umami. But Umami isn’t MSG.

@SmilingDeer-cv9jh День назад

A celery extract?

@Natasha-jf3vq Месяц назад

It seems that Anglo-Saxons have just discovered the taste of umami only recently. For the rest of countries in the world where soup (dashi) is the basis of their culinary culture, Umami concept has been there all along.

@Da-fk3gm Месяц назад

I am Japanese and studied about Umami at middle school's lesson 30 years ago.

@gori0451 Месяц назад

By looking at Italian or French cuisine and their cooking tequnique, I assume they did know about existence of unami by using tomatoes, anchovies, cheese etc. they just didn't call it unami.

@green7897 Месяц назад

@@gori0451 umami

@deadby15 Месяц назад

I think Every culture has been adding Umami-enhancing ingredients, such as Cheese, Bacon, Mushroom, etc., to make the taste richer. Sure, you can cook your dishes without them, but they make food more enjoyable and people knew what they achieve.

@darkhorseman8263 25 дней назад

Humans co evolved alongside glutamate rich umami flavours. Which is why it acts as an epigenetic signalling molecule that normalises hunger signalling.

@someguy2135 Месяц назад

MSG can reduce your need for an excessive amount of salt, so it can be actually healthier than salting your food to your taste preferance.

@bunnyfreakz Месяц назад

There were research, people given a soup with MSG without telling them, people were fine. Than they given a soup and researchers told people that soup contain MSG, people feels dizzy after eating it. It is just placebo effect.

@elizaalmabuena Месяц назад

nocebo* when the effect experienced is positive it is placebo when the effect experienced is negative it is nocebo Both can have a very real effect in the body and can continue to work even when you know it is placebo/nocebo. So if you benefit from the effect in some way and the way to bring it about is harmless and accessible go ahead and use it.

@Western_ENT 7 дней назад

Well, your healing most of the time are also placebo effects (seeing doctors).. 😏

@stephaneg9591 2 месяца назад

In order to understand ``umami,'' it is necessary to have a highly honed sense of taste. A taste buds trained on the taste of natural ingredients, unaffected by butter, spices, etc.

@josephdonais4778 Месяц назад

That is 100% bs. All it takes is to try it once in it's raw state such as "Accent" and one will begin to identify it in foods.

@jinny0112 19 дней назад

Various seaweed have been used in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine for years for sure. Soups are usually based on seaweed broth.

@eleonore5292 22 дня назад

Strongly agree with the Japanese restauranteur, the umami created by MSG is very unnatural. It has a different taste from the umami from natural ingredients. Fortunately we got solutions. Essences extracted from natural food such as mushrooms, garlics,bacons are available to solve the dilemma

@melaniesanangelo4367 2 месяца назад

Does anyone remember Accent seasoning for steaks ? I remembered we used it in the 70s …

@someguy2135 Месяц назад

Yes, I remember. I went to high school in the 70's and seeing the blue Accent shaker in the house. I recently bought a big bag of MSG at an Asian market, and use it sometimes for my plant based diet. More often, I use natural sources like mushrooms, seaweed, nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and tomato products. That way, I don't miss the natural taste of umami in animal products.

@jandreid2023 Месяц назад

Stock cubes are quite good.

@luckycharmearth Месяц назад

Umami seems to me to be the bass sound in music.

@nightowl6260 Месяц назад

MSG gives me blinding headaches.

@burcerdil 24 дня назад

Because it messes up with your blood glucose and blood pressure.

@Michael-yi4mc 9 дней назад

I’m blinded by the light.🎵

@zara4529 Месяц назад

I'm in love with this style of performing, it feels like I'm listening to a radio program.🥰

@tracyallen2738 5 дней назад

Fascinating and indeed so delicious 😋.

@alexandra3ll 14 дней назад

I never had any allergies until a severe reaction I had in 2014 after ordering Chinese takaway. I wasn't able to pinpoint the troublesome ingredient for another few months. I avoid MSG, however tye amount could be a key, as I never had any problems using ketchup..

@nyaradhiambo 22 дня назад

I have bought mdg and I've not noticed the difference. I don't know what quantity to use and idk if my msg is fake or expired 🤔

@1piw544 16 дней назад

I wonder why in china pregnant women are strongly advised to not eat out (cook at home without MSG) because of the bad influence of MSG on the fetus.

@chandanp8364 21 день назад

Madam, there are 6 tastes already. I feel blessed that we Indians are much more advanced in many things already . Getting to know the poor world through social media now a days There are six primary rasas viz. madhura (sweet), amla (sour), lavaṇa (salty), kaṭu (hot), tikta (bitter) and kaṣaya (astringent).

@nimolpong 25 дней назад

No vdo 😢

@rhiannablumberg4803 13 дней назад

INCREDIBLE!!!!❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

@PaulMcB873 4 дня назад

Umami (MSG) taste like a mellow salt. It's a sodium salt, so mellow salt. I can use msg in place of salt.

@rsxacura3472 Месяц назад

Misoshiru Saiko!

@ip4380 23 дня назад

I've got severe allergy reactions while on trip in Japan. Firstly, I thought that I was bitten by bug, but then when I was seeing medical help,I learned that I was having an allergy to msg. Pitty, I love the food.

@NazriB 19 дней назад

Lies again? Mola Sport Blood Of Malay

@gxguy2906 12 дней назад

But you're fine with potatoes chip and doritos 😀

@ip4380 12 дней назад

@gxguy2906 no

@Western_ENT 7 дней назад

@@gxguy2906 🤣 seriously. All countries in Asia use MSG in daily cooking, but he only found Japanese food allergic 🤣 Japanese DO use more natural umami ingredients than other countries, with abundant seaweeds and mushrooms, and yet he chose to be allergic to those "natural umami" 🤣 what a dumbum 🤣

@rubbergoose246 2 месяца назад

As a Japanese person, I'd like to kindly point out that what is often referred to as "Miso Soup" in English is more accurately called "Misoshiru" in Japanese. This distinction is similar to the precise use of terms like "Kawaii," "Ninja," "Sushi," "Tsunami," "Geisha," and "Umami" - all of which retain their original Japanese pronunciation and significance when used globally. Misoshiru holds a special place in our culture as one of Japan's soul foods. It's more than just a dish; it's a reflection of our heritage and culinary tradition. I believe that embracing the correct term, "Misoshiru," is a small but meaningful way to show respect and appreciation for Japanese culture. Thank you for your understanding and respect towards cultural accuracy.

@happycook6737 26 дней назад

I thought shiro meant white color. Did I miss something? I love making soup with miso. Delicious fast and easy if you use storebought miso.

@nishantm2087 19 дней назад

@@happycook6737 shiru (soup), not shiro (white)

@kyounokuma 5 дней назад

Thank you for another great episode. My wife and I live in Japan. Although we don't use MSG at home, we are aware that restaurants, neighbors, and extended family use it regularly. It's not as much of a health concern for me as it is for my wife, who's Japanese, but both of us avoid MSG as much as possible for two very different reasons. For her, there's mainly a health concern. But for both of us, we're worried that it will alter our palate to the point that we can't appreciate food that is more traditionally prepared and doesn't quite have the same punch as MSG-laden foods. We appreciate the subtle natural flavors produced using traditional ingredients and cooking methods, particularly in Japanese cuisine. We want to preserve our sensitivity and fondness for more delicate tastes. As the restaurant owner stated towards the end of the podcast, you can tell the difference between naturally produced flavors and artificially induced flavors as a result of using MSG. My wife and I can certainly tell the difference as well. Yes, using MSG does add depth to the taste of food. But that taste is generally more harsh and overstated. It lacks softness, complexity, and subtlety and produces a taste that is less harmonious than what is produced naturally during the cooking process. But, like I said, many restaurants in Japan use it; our friends and family use it, and we don't have a problem with that. It's really not a big deal since it doesn't seem to be causing problems for anyone. Everyone should feel free to prepare and enjoy meals the way they see fit in their home or business.

@lreppy10 27 дней назад

I love the flavor of MSG and umami flavor. I love Chinese, Korean and Japanese food. Unfortunately it definitely triggers migraines for me!

@huynguyen5706 4 дня назад

Agreed.

@deadby15 Месяц назад

I didn't know about the connection between Umami and breast milk.

@adyenlichtwachter6684 День назад

MSG is still Sodium. But it doesn't trigger "saltyness" in the tastebuds. If you're adding lots of MSG and lots of SALT (like in the 80s), while being sensitive to Sodium. Then you need to change your habits.

@asen7574 Месяц назад

I need to check the stocks of Ajinomoto after that video😅

@ferriver3985 13 дней назад

My Asian mom also lived to 89 and used MSG all her life. Something else is causing premature deaths.

@ranginee09 11 дней назад

The video ignores the Sodium part of msg. It adds up to the total sodium intake in our meals.

@liarliarnyo5032 9 дней назад

it was mentioned that msg contains sodium, and that if msg is used in cooking, it would actually take less salt for your cooking.

@ajaxpp5 Месяц назад

As a result of the Meiji educational reforms of the 1850s and 1900s, Japan produced food scientists that were ahead of the West.

@theloneliestmonk 2 месяца назад

I won’t eat at any Asian restaurants touting the fact that they don’t use MSG; anymore than I’d choose to eat at a French restaurant claiming not to use butter or heavy cream

@SophyaAgain Месяц назад

Butter, heavy cream and GARLIC. 😁

@MrKhankab Месяц назад

To be fair. Them Asian restaurants only put "no MSG" because certain people think msg is bad. They did no research or anything. Just word of mouth.

@judyfifield6941 23 дня назад

@@MrKhankabFifteen minutes after ingesting msg I’m reaching for my migraine medication. That’s enough research for me.

@cc5299 Месяц назад

Not only Japanese taste Korean as well😊

@AllenYangZzz 25 дней назад

King of Flawor

@eathangogo9370 Месяц назад

MSG stands for Michael Schenker Group, I thought.😊

@usr747 Месяц назад

All humans should try MSG coffee! I invented this.

@johnlay3040 5 дней назад

It is the glutamate that makes it tasty.

@siralexferguson4640 2 месяца назад

MSG= Make shit good.

@z3lda808 Месяц назад

Thanks Uncle Roger 😂

@GGData 29 дней назад

Not true that in Japan is used everywhere. Living here for quite a few years and nobody I know uses it at home. Maybe lazy people who can't even prepare soup use it, but I have only seen it in some Chinese restaurants.

@SophyaAgain Месяц назад

Hmm ... interesting. As a Japanese descent I remember Aji-No-Moto in our kitchen when I was a kid. Then I myself has never had it in mine. I'll buy it next groucery shopping. Though I think my food is quite tasty. 🙂

@DavidShantzwildoutwest 5 дней назад

Is this podcast format of narration over slides really appropriate for RU-vid???

@Bluetangg 7 часов назад

😂

@Guesswhokk День назад

Uncle Roger: "Ummmm MSG, salt on crack"

@user-jx4db7si8t Месяц назад

History of msg Roots in kelp, a type of seaweed from the North Sea in Japan Ancient Japanese have cooked with it. Japanese people are not only aware of chemical seasonings

@yieldstress 14 дней назад

Ross Gellar comes into mind whenever they say umami 🤔

@chris405 9 дней назад

That was unagi

@tick88 25 дней назад

With all the junk that’s in people’s everyday foods in super markets, I’m surprised MSG is still getting attention. People should avoid it if they react to it. Like you would to any food that causes an adverse reaction. Which is a shame as it tastes great.

@klangetoten4738 Месяц назад

Bitterness tastes like umami when taken together to me.

@MrKhankab 22 дня назад

What? Lol

@user-rh6ru5oz2o 2 месяца назад

MSG shows up naturally in some meat, tomatoes and cheese. You msg hater must not be able to eat anything

@nicktecky55 Месяц назад

Garbage. You haters need to know the difference between an acid and a salt. Or are you claiming Hydrochloric Acid is the same as Sodium Chloride? Glutamic Acid is an amino acid, occurring widely throughout nature. Humans have no need of it, the body can synthesise all that it needs. Sodium Glutamate is made in a factory. Lactose tolerance is a genetic mutation present throughout Northern Europe, and is responsible for the evolutionary take over from hunter gatherers in Britain, for example. It is therefore perfectly reasonable that some people have a tolerance for MSG, and others don't; and that this may be racially based.

@zara4529 Месяц назад

If one drink a glass of liquid contains 2 grams of Safran, in one sitting his/her heart would stop as well.

@pharge 2 дня назад

The so call reactions to MSG can be a combination of high dose MSG and psychological issues. For people who is not used to MSG, a suddenly high dose of MSG can be an issue. Furthermore, MSG is sodium + glutamate, a not salty source of sodium. Why it seems more severe with Chinese food? It’s not because of using MSG. It is because of using too much MSG + salt. With already a lot of hidden sodium in the sauce, adding a lot of MSG just make things even worse. The difference between toxic and nontoxic usually is just because of dosage difference. Otherwise, MSG is already everywhere. It’s in your Campbell soup, in your chips, in your many food….. with already high MSG intake from daily food, a bowl of Chinese food maybe is just the last kick to tricker all the discomfort.

@intheshell35ify Месяц назад

Can't be bothered to put up a few pictures?

@btaleonard02 Месяц назад

I saw one picture of the misoshiru, very strange.

@datpham2482 16 дней назад

If I am completely honest, MSG has a very weird flavour, it isn't sweet, nor bitter, nor salty, nor sour, and yet we use it in every daily meal in Vietnam. I couldn't get my head around why we keep putting it in our food so I tried cooking without it for a couple of times and the dish didn't taste right, it felt like you are eating British food. On the other hand if somesome put too much MSG in the food it's gonna kill me.

@pcawte Месяц назад

Gives me headache and upset stomach like a hangover, lasting 2 days

@eleanorrose6122 9 дней назад

The Japanese live long while eating MSG or Umami sauce

@watchman835 Месяц назад

Umami…

@barenoks4387 17 дней назад

Hahaha uncle Roger’s nephew’s and niece’s already know was up!!!!

@camelemonglass Месяц назад

うま味、それは味の後ろの方で、ほのかにコンスタンスのある主役

@cherlux 17 дней назад

For me, food doesn't taste better without msg.

@AnzalnaSatar 17 дней назад

There are petsons who do have an allergy to MSG

@silvahawk 19 дней назад

MSG in martini is a no for me

@SoapinTrucker 6 дней назад

If you worry about walking under a ladder you will have bad luck 🤞

@shankarbalakrishnan2360 23 дня назад

❤❤🎉🎉

@kjracz15 27 дней назад

First and foremost, you never put that much msg in your soup. Too much of anything is bad and just a waste. Misleading thumbnail, bro. 😂

@GummyRiches 2 дня назад

M'ake S'hit G'ood=MSG

@goodbarbenie5477 11 дней назад

Ahem...In general people will eat anything, especially in Africa forget about hygiene its more the flavours which count...as for modern day man their stomachs are like sewerage pipes...😢 Besides food isn't food anymore. Keep away from anything in packets and tins. And one will to a ripe old age. When I was in the U.K. way back in the 70's. It was discovered they in bread alone had enough additives, fillers, flavour enhances, colourants, preservatives....etc. In one year to fill a train's coaches a mile long...😢😮😢

@TheLalala1006 19 дней назад

MSG made from plant based ingredients.

@lydialasrado3797 14 дней назад

Experiment on his wife's broth?

@goodbarbenie5477 11 дней назад

Money has No Soul 😮

@mateobaysa2055 18 дней назад

My dog’s 💩 is umami 😂

@morobi3553 2 месяца назад

In my opinion, with MSG, the taste is artificial, you can always tell. In the end, you can't satisfy with the food with MSG and tend to overeat.

@happycook6737 26 дней назад

I agree for me the addition of MSG increases my appetite and the volume I eat. Not a good thing for fat me.

@allmc3120 2 месяца назад

MSG makes me thirsty and dry mouth.

@ivychua4091 Месяц назад

Boycott Ajinomoto

@Littlesupermanman Месяц назад

Umami is good additive Never use that shit

@Littlesupermanman Месяц назад

That’s why Japanese food is tasty Don’t get pretended

@cadlac1533 2 месяца назад

No, MSG! Please! It harms customers. Our family gets rashes, .. more to say ! after we consume foods that add MSG . Stop ! Using MSG.

@hbattagl 2 месяца назад

Do you also get rashes from eating meat, fish, tomatoes, mushrooms etc? These are the foods that contain higher amounts of sodium glutamates?

@mannanMohammed-ey6vl 2 месяца назад

My whole family use MSG daily for 43 years, nothing happens

@55ken3 2 месяца назад

Have you heard of the placebo effect?

@user-rh6ru5oz2o 2 месяца назад

The cold cut recipe on your channel contains bacon and cheddar cheese, both are loaded with MSG.

@1181K 2 месяца назад

This idea was implanted in their mind by racist people.

@angelicasoup638 2 месяца назад

Both are bad for health.

@elizaalmabuena Месяц назад

how is a taste bad for someone's health?

@angelicasoup638 Месяц назад

@@elizaalmabuena umami came from MSG. and they made out of Chemical stimulant your tongue .

@elizaalmabuena Месяц назад

@@angelicasoup638 umami is a taste, also known as meaty or savory. It is simply the term that stuck the most, but is still a taste like sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.