I just read this on Epicurious.com:

"If you ever had trouble getting a grip on the somewhat esoteric concept of "umami," now it's much more accessible. By the tube, in fact. Umami, the so-called "fifth taste" (after the four basic senses bitter, salty, sour and sweet) describes the savory flavor found in such varied ingredients as soy sauce, fish sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Anchovies and porcini mushrooms - both naturally high in umami - are ingredients in the new puree. The product is the creation of food writer Laura Santtini, who says she wanted to bring umami to the masses: 'I wanted to get away from the notion that umami is something of interest to scientists that no one else can really understand." With sleek black and white packaging and a name - "Taste no. 5" - that evokes a certain perfume, the tubes are currently being sold in Waitrose, the British supermarket chain."

This could be the new Marmite! Have any of our British brethren had the chance to try this stuff? Feel like being the guinea pig?

I'd like to get my hands on this intriguing product - who will mail me some (to the US)?

Cheers,
Michael