tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011-10-01:/enabu004/myblog//14699 We are all aware that our taste buds can detect the flavors of sweet, sour, bitter and salty. The tongue has millions of receptors to distinguish the different tastes. Who knew that we had a fifth receptor called umami. Apart from the basic tastes that our tongue senses umami detects the meaty or savory flavor of food. For a long period of time there have been debates about if this 5th taste existed. Not too long ago scientists have been able to replicate their past results and conclude that it does exist. A scientist of the name of Kikunae Ikeda did an experiment of separating the savory flavor of foods he found out that the foods contained monosodium glutamate in others words MSG. Umami is not directly MSG but, it has an abundant amount of it. The neurotransmitter is responsible for enhancing the flavors of wide varieties of food because it has no distinct aroma or texture. Umami can’t be defined as one flavor like salty or sweet because it contains the tastes of broth, savory, or spicy. When you think about it glutamate excites things in the nervous system and monosodium excites the food by giving it more flavor. Umami has been widely accepted as an additional receptor. The video discover The 5th Sense: Umami shows an experiment of people tasting different flavors and they have to differentiate between the tastes and describe it if it doesn't fit the normal sweet, sour or bitter taste. Movable Type Enterprise 4.31-en