ScienceSeptember 2, 2026
umami
oo-MAH-mee
Definition
A savory, meaty taste that is considered one of the five basic human senses of taste.
Etymology
The word is a loanword from Japanese, derived from 'umai' (delicious) and 'mi' (taste), coined in 1908 by chemist Kikunae Ikeda to describe the flavor of glutamates.
In the news
The article suggests that because high-altitude noise dulls sweet tastes, airlines should curate menus to feature umami-rich foods like tomatoes and mushrooms to ensure better flavor perception.
Surprising science behind why food tastes different on a plane
Read the full article ↗LADbible