Umami is one of the five basic tastes, alongside sweet, bitter, salty, and sour.

It was discovered over a century ago and is best described as a savory or “meaty” flavor. The word “umami” is Japanese and means “a pleasant savory taste.”

Scientifically speaking, umami refers to the taste of glutamate, inosinate, or guanylate. Glutamate — or glutamic acid — is a common amino acid in vegetable and animal proteins. Inosinate is mainly found in meats, while guanylate is more abundant in plants ( 1 ).

Like the other basic tastes, detecting umami is essential for survival. Umami compounds are typically found in high-protein foods, so tasting umami tells your body that a food contains protein.

In response, your body secretes saliva and digestive juices to help digest these proteins (2).

Aside from digestion, umami-rich foods may have potential health benefits. For instance, studies show that they’re more filling. Thus, choosing more umami-rich foods may aid weight loss by curbing your appetite ( 3 , 4 ).

Here are 16 umami foods with surprising health benefits.