BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)

Subject: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: michaelr
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 01:08 PM

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

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 02:12 PM

Is this a Japanese or Chinese word?
And is there any link between the name of this 'taste' and expressions such as 'yummy' and 'mmm yum-yum'?

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 03:13 PM

I was going to say, sounds a lot like Marmite.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: michaelr
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 05:19 PM

It's a Japanese word. Wikipedia entry here.

I'm serious about wanting to try this. British catters, please PM me about making arrangements.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: gnomad
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 07:29 AM

I'm no chemist, so don't fully understand the links, but it seems that monosodium glutamate and umami are closely associated. Some people might view that as a bad thing, though I do not.

Sorry, michaelr, no Waitrose near me, so I can't help your research at this time. If the product starts to get a wider distribution I may be able to try it in due course. I'll keep my eye out for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Paul Burke
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 10:34 AM

It's not a Japanese invention, though the recognition of it as a separate taste is. The Romans had their garum - basically fish left to atolyse, and collect what drips off- which would have contained much the same stuff, hydrolysed protein. Topsie- probably yes, but at such a basic level of language that it's practically natural noises. The word 'umami' is Japanese.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Gervase
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 01:13 PM

Marketing hype. Use MDG, anchovy essence, miso soup powder or Marmite - they all have the same effect and are far cheaper.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 02:07 PM

This was on the TV the other day, michael, on one of the cookery programmes. They were singing its' praises BIGTIME...and when they cooked the same dish twice, one with, one without Umami, everyone went for the 'with' one, saying how tasty it was.

I meant to get some after watching it, because they were in raptures about it, then...I forgot, but you've just reminded me again.

Heck, my cooking needs ALL the help it can get!   LOL :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 01:17 AM

Lizzie, please pick me up an extra tube! PMs for procedure... I'll thank `ee!

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 03:10 AM

If I find any I'll certainly do that, michael.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Cuilionn
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 10:37 AM

Umami is indeed associated with glutamate, in all its natural and contrived forms: MSG, Marmite & Vegemite, seaweed, slow-cooked or grilled meat, mushrooms, aged cheeses, anchovies, fermented soybeans, etc.

I remember reading somewhere, recently, that the concept of this "fifth taste" has been promoted heavily for decades by a Japanese "scientist" employed by the Ajinomoto commpany, producer of 1/3 of the world's MSG (also the biggest producer of the artificial sweetener aspartame). I can't recall the source but I'll try to look it back up.

Umami, as a concept and ready-made flavouring, has gradually achieved wider acceptance thanks to the company's shameless self-promotion, but those who tend to react to MSG should proceed towards with extreme caution, if at all!

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 10:54 AM

A new umami paste in a squeezy tube is to be sold at Waitrose from next week and will go on sale at the Booths supermarket chain in the north of England next month.

No Waitrose near us either but we are off to Ulverston, where there is a Booths supermarket, in about 10 days - If you are not fixed up let me know and I will see if they have any. The article I was quoting from was March last year so it is possible that it has been and gone:-( You never know though...

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 11:58 AM

Oriental fish sauce (the clear pale brown stuff) is a cheap and convenient way of getting this flavour.

Miso and soy sauce are nutritionally better since they also have B vitamins, but they're rarely gluten-free so I can't use them in anything Marion might eat.

Somewhere at the back of a cupboard I have a tin of pure MSG. I first opened it about 20 years ago. Maybe it improves the flavour of catfood?

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 06:45 PM

Thank you all for your contributions.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 08:16 PM

Here is an account of someone trying it.

This article includes a recipe, and some discussion.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: open mike
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 08:27 PM

I think it sounds like the japanese word Edame , which are green soy beans, which would probably be good with Umami on 'em

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: michaelr
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 01:29 AM

refresh, in case someone is near a Waitrose or Booths.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: bobad
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 01:41 PM

A new (to most) culinary item is black garlic, which, according to this article has a high umami content. I noticed it at the grocery store yesterday and thought it quite expensive but after reading about it's wonderful taste and healthful properties I will definitely give it a go. Google black garlic for a wealth of information.

Subject: RE: BS: Umami in a Tube (UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 01:38 PM

Alas and Alack - I have already PM'd Michael - I checked in Booths in Ulverston and they did not seem to know anything about it:-( May be worth checking other stores anyway but seing as the original link is a year or so old I suspect it may have been and gone. Will Marmite not do?

(Ducking and running as new Marmite wars break out...)

DeG