Waitrose has announced it is to become the first supermarket to introduce an umami paste called Taste No. 5 in its stores.
Research has revealed that the human tongue has five taste sensations: sweet, bitter, salty, sour and umami.
The paste, created by chef and food writer Laura Santtini, is based on the fifth taste umami, which is the intensely savoury taste imparted by glutamates and five ribonucleotides that occur naturally in many foods such as meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products.
The existence of the umami was first discovered early last century by the Japanese but has only recently been accepted by Western scientists.
Taste No. 5 combines umami-rich Italian ingredients such as tomato, Parmesan cheese and porcini mushrooms into a single paste that can be rubbed, squeezed or spread.
The product went on sale in Selfridges last year, however it is heading mainstream as it will be sold in Waitrose branches from February 15th at a price of £2.99 for 60g.