In 1982, in order to disseminate information about umami globally, the Umami Information Center was founded with the support of The Umami Manifacturers Association of Japan.
We aim to provide accurate and useful information about umami to Japan and the world.
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What is Umami
Umami is the fifth basic taste and was discovered by a Japanese scientist. Japanese people are full of knowledge on umami from both cultural as well as scientific standpoints.
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Umami-Rich Ingredients
Information on ingredients rich in glutamate, inosinate and guanylate.
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Local Cuisine in Japan and Umami
There are a variety of local cuisines that have been passed down over generations all over Japan. Local cuisine has supported the lives of the people in the region while making the most of regional ingredients, and it makes use of umami-rich soup stock and the umami in seasonal ingredients.
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Umami Database
Have you ever wondered how much umami is present in certain foods? The Umami Database will be one of the sources through which you can find the answer.
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Umami Tasting
In order to help people learn about the umami taste, the Umami Information Center always includes a tasting of umami-rich soup stocks and foods during our lectures. Let's try umami.
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Umami founder Kikunae Ikeda
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was discovered in 1908 by Kikunae Ikeda, a professor at the School of Science's Department of Chemistry at the Imperial University (now called The University of Tokyo).
Umami Information Center Activity
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2024.07.17
Umami Lecture at National Convention 2024 of the American Culinary Federation
UIC explained the function of umami in cooking at a major convention where US chefs gathered.
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2024.07.03
Umami lecture at Waseda University “Experience the depth of umami - Explore world cuisine through science”
Students explored the similarities and differences between food cultures through umami.
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2024.03.21
The Exercise of Food Science “Knowing Umami, Feeling Umami” to Otsuma Women's University
It was given as a regular class of the university.
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Umami Rich Ingredients Shoyu(Soy source)
Soy sauce is a fermented condiment and seasoning sauce that plays a central role in Japanese culinary culture.
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Umami Rich Ingredients Miso
Miso is one of the traditional Japanese fermented ingredient made from soybeans, koji and salt.Recently, it is often used not only in Japanese cuisine but also in Western cuisine. Miso is rich in glutamate which is one of major umami substances.
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Umami Rich Ingredients Kombu(Kelp)
Of all foods, kombu is the richest in glutamate, a component of umami and an essential ingredient in Japanese cuisine. In particular, kombu stock is indispensable for cooking vegetable dishes in Buddhist cuisine, which does not use meat and fish.
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Umami Rich Ingredients Katsuobushi(Dried Bonito Flakes)
Along with kombu, katsuobushi is indispensable to Japanese cuisine. Bonito is rich in inosinate, a substance of umami. In combination with glutamate, the beneficial effects of umami are multiplied several fold. Japanese ichiban (primary) dashi uses this synergetic effect.
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Umami Rich Ingredients Mushroom
Mushrooms come in various shapes and flavors. Raw mushrooms contain glutamate, a component of umami. Dried mushrooms are also rich in guanylate, another substance of umami.
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Umami Rich Ingredients Tomato
Tomatoes are rich in glutamate. The amount of glutamate reaches its peak as tomatoes ripen to a vivid red color.
Seasonings made of tomatoes are used around the world. Umami-rich tomatoes are an important part of the human diet. -
Umami Rich Ingredients Vegetables and Beans
Familiar vegetables contain glutamate, a constituent of umami. What types of vegetables have the highest umami content?
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Umami Rich Ingredients Cheese
Compare the umami substances of different types of cheese. Do you see a large difference in the amount of umami between fresh and matured cheeses?
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What is Dashi
Japanese cuisine is an invaluable part of our culture, which we are proud of. Dashi is the base of this cuisine. Information on and cooking methods of dashi are given here.
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Umami Culture around the World
In every country around the globe, there are various umami-rich ingredients that impart deliciousness to food.
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PLANT BASED×UMAMI
Japanese cuisine and vegetarian cuisine chefs introduce delicious plant-based foods that utilize umami
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Umami&Plants Based Cooking
Webinar that includes an explanation of vegetarian cuisine that utilizes umami and a cooking demonstration by chef Kakuho Aoe