{"id":2787,"date":"2024-04-03T16:29:53","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T16:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/?page_id=2787"},"modified":"2025-08-05T10:47:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T10:47:07","slug":"umami-made-easy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/umami-made-easy\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Umami"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"hero-simple\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Maketto_Kikkoman_Congee-1-scaled.jpg');\" alt=\"Umami Made Easy\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n            <div class=\"col-12\">\n                <div class=\"center-box\">\n                    <h1 class=\"drop-shadow\">Umami Made Easy<\/h1>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:55px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center pr-3 pl-3\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">How to Harness the Flavor-Enhancing Power of Umami Across Your Menu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;overflow: hidden\" class=\"pr-3 pl-3 \">\n  <div style=\"width: 100%;text-align: left\">\n    <p style=\"text-align: center;max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">\n      Umami is one of today\u2019s hottest culinary topics. Everyone is looking for it. Everyone wants to add it. So, what exactly is umami, and how can you put it to work on your menu? Our Executive Chef Andrew Hunter puts it all in perspective.\n    <\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/br>\n  <div style=\"width: 400px;margin: 0 auto;text-align: center\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Andrew-Hunter-Headshot-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"Umami Image\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto;border-radius: 50%\">\n<\/br>\n    <p style=\"text-align: center;font-weight: bold;margin-top: 5px;font-size: 12px\">Andrew Hunter | Executive Chef | Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.<\/p>\n    \n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:41px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"image-and-text-columns-box image-text-columns   alignwide\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n            <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 order-last  order-md-first \">\n                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/umamirichfoods.png\"  alt=\"Umami Explained\u00a0\">\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n                <div class=\"content-box pr-3 pl-3   pl-md-5 pr-md-0 \">\n                    <h2 class=\"custom-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Umami Explained\u00a0<\/h2>\n                    <p>We tend to think of four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Umami is the fifth taste\u2014often described as meaty, savory\u200b,\u200b or brothy. Although it was first identified and analyzed in Japan in the early 20th century, umami has been around for thousands of years as the \u201csecret weapon\u201d of cooks looking to add flavor intensity.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a flavor that is harder to pin down than the other four. But if you know what to look for, umami is instantly recognizable. It\u2019s the tongue-coating richness of reduced meat stock, the intensity of parmesan cheese, the concentrated flavor of saut\u00e9ed mushrooms or tomato sauce, and the complex, sweet-savory depth of traditionally brewed soy sauce.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s behind all of these umami-rich ingredients is a high concentration of certain amino acids, including glutamic acid\u2014often the result of fermentation or reduction. But it\u2019s what they do to other foods that is truly remarkable.<\/p>\n<p>Umami ingredients boost flavor. Add them, and foods taste richer, more intense, \u200band \u200bmore fully rounded. \u200bTraditionally\u200b\u200b brewed Kikkoman\u00ae Soy Sauce is one of the most versatile, all-purpose umami ingredients of all. As I mentioned, cheese, tomatoes\u200b,\u200b and mushrooms are often cited as examples of umami-rich ingredients. Just look at how brewed soy sauce compares to them in terms of its natural umami.<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n  <div class=\"content-box pr-3 pl-3 pl-md-5 pr-md-0\">\n    <h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">Soy Sauce &amp; Umami<\/h2>\n\n    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;margin-bottom: 15px\">Kikkoman\u00ae Soy Sauce is made from just four natural ingredients: water, soybeans, wheat, and salt. A special aspergillus yeast culture starts the fermentation process that transforms those ingredients into soy sauce over a period of several months, much like the process of making fine wine.<\/p>\n\n    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;margin-bottom: 15px\">This is essentially how soy sauce has been made since its invention about 2,500 years ago, when it was created as a way to give vegetarian food a richer flavor. In fact, it\u2019s one of the world\u2019s oldest umami ingredients.<\/p>\n\n    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;margin-bottom: 15px\">But what makes it different from other umami-rich ingredients is its versatility. You\u2019re not going to add a pinch of parmesan cheese or chopped mushrooms to just anything you cook. But traditionally brewed Kikkoman\u00ae Soy Sauce, which contains more than 300 distinct flavor and aroma components and is high in total nitrogen content (the measure of a soy sauces\u2019 umami and richness), is an easily incorporated liquid that\u2019s convenient to use and store.<\/p>\n\n    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;margin-bottom: 15px\">And when used in the right quantity, it can actually act as a natural flavor enhancer for just about anything savory. In other words, soy sauce can be \u201cinstant umami\u201d.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:37px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n  <div class=\"content-box pr-3 pl-3 pl-md-5 pr-md-0\">\n    <h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">The Flavor Threshold<\/h2>\n\n    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;margin-bottom: 15px\">Used in the right proportion, brewed soy sauce can significantly boost the flavor of other ingredients without adding a discernable soy sauce flavor. That\u2019s why it can be used to add depth, flavor balance, and umami to a variety of non-Asian cuisines, including Latin, Mediterranean\u200b,\u200b and \u201cmainstream American.\u201d<\/p>\n\n    <p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;margin-bottom: 15px\">The key to achieving this umami boost is balance. In most cases\u2014especially when working with non-Asian foods\u2014you want the soy sauce flavor to remain in the background\u200b, \u200bso that you perceive its savory, sweet, meaty qualities without actually identifying a pronounced soy sauce taste. In those applications, including soy sauce at around 2% is a good starting point. Go slowly at first, as you would with salt or pepper, adding soy sauce to taste until you get the proportions right.<\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"image-and-text-columns-box image-text-columns   alignwide\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n            <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 order-last  order-md-first \">\n                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/umami.png\"  alt=\"Umami Synergy: One Plus One Equals Wow\">\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n                <div class=\"content-box pr-3 pl-3   pl-md-5 pr-md-0 \">\n                    <h2 class=\"custom-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Umami Synergy: One Plus One Equals Wow<\/h2>\n                    <p>Soy sauce is\u200b\u200b particularly useful when you\u2019re preparing a dish that contains other umami-rich ingredients. Add soy sauce to beef, pork, chicken, seafood, mushrooms or tomatoes, for example, and you get what\u2019s called umami synergy. As the flavors combine, they add up to more than the sum of their parts\u2014in other words, you get what many chefs like to call an \u201cumami bomb.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>When making pizza, for example, adding soy sauce to the tomato sauce can create umami synergies with the tomato sauce, the cheese, the pepperoni, and even the yeast in the crust.   <\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"recipe-box\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"main-box right\">\n            <div class=\"text-box\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/brown-bg-module-2-1.png');\" alt=\"Recipe Collections\">\n                 <h2>\n                                <p class=big>8<\/p>\n                                <p class=big>instant <\/p>\n                                <p class=big>Umami<\/p>\n                                <p class=big>Hacks <\/p>\n                  <\/h2>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/kikkomanusa\/static\/assets\/icon-bottle.png\" alt=\"Icon\">\n            <\/div>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/?page_id=2820\" class=\"btn gray\">Read More<\/a>\n                        <div class=\"bg\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/5-Toasted-Sesame-Cocktail-scaled.jpg');\" alt=\"8 instant \"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"max-width: 100%;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left;background-image: url('https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/grey-bg-module-1-1.png');padding: 20px;color: white\">\n\n  <h2 style=\"text-align: center\">\u200b\u200b\u200bUmami and Japan<\/h2>\n  <br>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">Umami exists in all cuisines, but its name actually comes from Japan. That\u2019s because it was first identified and named in 1908 by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese chemist and professor at the Tokyo Imperial University. Ikeda observed that the same savory, tongue-coating qualities of dashi\u2014the classic Japanese stock, which is made with dried kelp\u2014was also present in cheese, tomatoes, and other foods that have a unique savory flavor that\u2019s distinct from sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. By analyzing the chemical components of kelp, Ikeda discovered that the chemical compound glutamate is responsible for this \u201cfifth taste.\u201d <\/p>\n<br>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">He called this \u201cnew\u201d taste umami, a name he created by combining two Japanese words: umai (delicious) and mi (taste). So, while umami isn\u2019t unique to Japanese food, its name is rooted in Japan\u2014and Japanese cuisine draws on many \u201csuper umami\u201d ingredients like soy sauce, mirin, miso, and dashi. No wonder more and more chefs all over the world are now incorporating the \u201cdelicious taste\u201d of the sauces, ingredients, and flavors of Japanese cooking into their own culinary creations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"product-DIY\">\n    <div class=\"first-section\" style=\"display:none;\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"row\">\n                <div class=\"col-3 col-md-6\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Bottle\" class=\"pDIY\">\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"col-9 col-md-6\">\n                    <div class=\"block\">\n                        <h2 class=\"big\"><\/h2>\n                        <h3><\/h3>\n                        <p><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div> \n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"second-section\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"row\">\n                <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n                    <div class=\"box\">\n                        <h2 class=\"big\">Instant Umami Demo<\/h2>\n                        <p>Want to experience umami firsthand? Try this DIY demo and prepare to be enlightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/umami-diy-demo.png\" alt=\"Bottle\">\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"third-section\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"row\">\n                 \n                    <div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 mobile-reverse\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/diy-step-1.png\" alt=\"Step 1\">\n                        <div class=\"step-box\">\n                            <p class=\"number\">1<\/p>\n                            <p class=\"description\">Place 1\/4 cup warm low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth in each of two small bowls. To one bowl, add 1\/4 teaspoon Kikkoman\u00ae Soy Sauce. This is an inclusion level of about 2% soy sauce.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                 \n                    <div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 mobile-reverse\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/diy-step-2.png\" alt=\"Step 1\">\n                        <div class=\"step-box\">\n                            <p class=\"number\">2<\/p>\n                            <p class=\"description\">Taste the plain broth.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                 \n                    <div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 mobile-reverse\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/diy-step-3.png\" alt=\"Step 1\">\n                        <div class=\"step-box\">\n                            <p class=\"number\">3<\/p>\n                            <p class=\"description\">Now taste the Kikkoman-enhanced broth. Notice that you don\u2019t really taste soy sauce, but the broth has more depth and a richer flavor. It\u2019s subtle, yet unmistakable. <\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"content-box pr-3 pl-3   pl-md-5 pr-md-0 \">\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">Creating Crave<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"max-width: 960px;margin: 0 auto;width: 100%;text-align: left\">Here\u2019s the bottom line. Umami can make any food more craveable, and in our business, that\u2019s the name of the game. So, check out the umami boosting power of Kikkoman\u00ae Soy Sauce, and <a href=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/recipes-and-videos\/\">discover how<\/a> you can put it to work across your menu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#ddd\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-spacer gb-block-spacer gb-divider-solid gb-divider-size-1\"><hr style=\"height:30px\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align:center\" class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-cta gb-block-cta\"><div class=\"gb-cta-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gb-cta-image has-background-dim\" src=\"https:\/\/kikkomanusa.com\/foodservice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Pod-pattern.png\" alt=\"Pod-pattern\"\/><\/div><div class=\"gb-cta-content\"><h2 class=\"gb-cta-title gb-font-size-38\" style=\"color:#f67f04\">Want to Learn More?<\/h2><div class=\"gb-cta-text gb-font-size-32\" style=\"color:#f67f04\"><p>Listen to my guest appearance on an episode of the podcast CAF\u00c9 Talks devoted entirely to umami.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gb-cta-button\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"gb-button gb-button-shape-rounded gb-button-size-large\" style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#f67f04\">Hear The Podcast<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Harness the Flavor-Enhancing Power of Umami Across Your Menu Umami is one of today\u2019s hottest culinary topics. Everyone is looking for it. Everyone wants to add it. So, what exactly is umami, and how can you put it to work on your menu? Our Executive Chef Andrew Hunter puts it all in perspective. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"page-type":[],"class_list":["post-2787","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"blog_page_link_text":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Understanding Umami - Kikkoman Food Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the fifth taste sensation with umami: the savory, rich flavor that elevates dishes to new heights. 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