Trivia
HardThe Five Taste Sensations Are Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, and?
Answer: Umami
Umami is a Japanese word that can be translated roughly as “a pleasant savory taste”; the word was first applied to human physiology by Professor Kikunae Ikeda in 1908 to describe the fifth taste, a taste that existed beyond the scope of the more commonly described taste sensations: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
Although the term (and the taste itself) was hotly debated in scientific circles, by 1985 advances in science made it possible to isolate exactly what Professor Ikeda had been talking about all along. Umami is specifically the taste created by the presence of glutamates and nucleotides; this flavor is typically found in soup broths, fish dishes, cured meats, ripe tomatoes and many fermented products (such as fermented fish and cheeses). In light of the flavor profile being found in both meats and ripe tomatoes, it’s not surprising that many people describe the flavor of very ripe and dense tomatoes as “meaty”.
The continued study of the specific glutamates and nucleotides that give things that savory “umami” taste have both provided insight into why certain foods are traditionally paired together and allowed food manufacturers to create foods, like canned soups, that have a more satisfying taste.
Trivia
EasyThe British Tradition Of Driving On The Left Side Of The Road Is Thanks To?
Trivia
EasyWhich Automotive Company’s Name Is Astronomical In Origin?
Trivia
HardTesla Originally Believed His Radio Allowed Him To Communicate With Whom?
Trivia
Very HardThe First Steam Engine Was Known As What?
Trivia
EasyThe First Movie Exhibition Spaces Were Called?
Trivia
HardWhat Was The First Book Sold On Amazon.com?
Trivia
HardSagans, An Informal Unit Of Measurement, Signify What?
Trivia
HardInformally Called “Hole-In-One” Insurance, The Formal Name For This Insurance Is?
Trivia
HardIf You’re Eating Potato Chips There’s A Good Chance The Potato Was Grown In?
Trivia
Very HardWhich Space Mission Was Guided Home Safely With A Wristwatch And Grease Pencil?