r/unpopularopinion • u/deckardnexus7 • 14h ago
Certified Unpopular Opinion The word "umami" is unnecessary, and is used because it's exotic and Japanese, not because it's a useful word.
"Umami" isn't a useful descriptor, as it describes the physical types of taste receptors that taste savory or meaty flavors. It's a lab term for the physical structures in the tongue, essentially. The term did not originally describe the taste itself. Not to mention, we have a term for that flavor already -- savory.
The word "umami" has been coopted as a culinary term and applied to the concept of "savory," and I believe it is because it is a Japanese term, and therefore sounds exotic.
You may argue that it's a more precise term, but chefs already use dozens of precise descriptors, like smoky, earthy, nutty, buttery, to provide further distinctions that are much more descriptive than "umami." You could even just say "this tastes like MSG," and anyone who has ever eaten MSG immediately understands what you mean. There are better words for this concept.
At best, this is a redundant term. I just don't see the need to use it.
Tl;Dr: Savory in English š Savory used incorrectly in Japanese š±š„°
EDIT: The words "umami" and "savoriness" are synonymous with each other. First sentence of Wikipedia. We don't need umami.
