Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday! Get ready to learn something new, and perhaps get a little hungry. Visit Kathy at bermudaonion.net for more fun words.
This word nerd word was so interesting, my ten-year-old insisted on visiting the library to find it. He read Rebecca Stead’s middle grade novel Liar and Spy several months ago, and he couldn’t remember the word introduced in book for a special sense, a fifth taste. After a few seconds of hasty flipping in the juvenile fiction aisle, he found it: umami.
umami \ü-mā-mē\ noun; Japanese; a taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides
I’d never heard about this taste until reading Rebecca Stead’s novel. How about you?
Word Nerd Workout
Can you think of food that fits this taste? I’m imagining grilled steak marinated in soy sauce. Hmm. Too bad it’s too cold to grill these days. Hopefully soon!
Thanks for getting your foodie nerd on with me today!
Julia
P.S. Here’s my review for Liar and Spy
An Umami steak sounds good right now…can we add red wine, garlic and honey to that soy sauce marinade?
I’ve never heard of Umami but now I want a steak! Don’t have any…:( I think it’s yogurt for dinner.
I was also thinking potatoes and bacon for umami. My thought was baked potatoes with sour cream, chives and bacon sprinkled on top. I like the word. You made me think.
Umami! I wonder if the wonderful ribeye steak I had for my birthday dinner would qualify! Yes, I am sure it would. Not much chance to eat Japanese food in small town Wyoming, but we have great beef, and buffalo, and elk and moose and bear if you prefer. Who wants to come visit?
I do! I do! We actually have a Japanese restuarant here in small town Virginia, but my Japanese friends tell me it’s not authentic. I hope you had a great birthday- steak sounds good.
Ah, umami! An old favorite. I learned about this concept several years ago, and was thrilled that it now has its own name in English. As a blissful carnivore, I have experienced its meaty goodness many times, and was delighted to have something to call it. Did you know that one of the reasons the Japanese developed this word was because of their uniquely savory version of mayonnaise? If you’ve ever had sushi that is described on the menu as containing “Japanese mayonnaise,” you’ve had this experience. If not, I can highly recommend it.
Well thanks for adding to the information in my post! I did not know this tidbit about Japanese mayonnaise. I thought mayo was a uniquely American condiment. Thanks for sharing!
I have heard the word umami but thought it was a food :/ Now, I am informed, thank you 🙂
I think I’ve seen that word but thought it was the name of a Japanese food – I didn’t realize it was a taste. I have to admit that’s not my favorite taste so I can’t think of too many things that taste that way so I’ll go with a hamburger.
A tasty word.
It’s all about food in the blogosphere today! Be sure to check out Coach Daddy’s In Six Word prompt about children’s eating habits. I bet you can add another six words to the list, Julia!
Let’s see. Savory favorites. Homemade garlic mashed potatoes. French onion soup. Preferably in Quebec City. Authenticity is important! Crisp, crunchy bacon. Mmmm. Now I’m hungry!
And I am too. Going to check out Coach Eli’s post…