kokumi (k/uˈkuːmi/, Japanese: 濃く味) is translated as "heartiness" or "mouth-fulness" and describes compounds in food that do not have their own taste, but enhance the characteristics when combined. These compounds include calcium, protamine, L-histidine (an amino acid) and glutathione (found in yeast extract).[1]The calcium-sensing receptors (G-protein coupled) on the tongue are triggered by γ-L-glutamyl peptides. These peptides are sensitive to glutathione.[2] First discovered in 1990 by Japanese researchers Yoichi Ueda, Makoto Sakaguchi, Kazuo Hirayama, Ryuichi Miyajima & Akimitsu Kimizuka.[3] Their research concluded that Kokumi was a tasteless flavor enhancer that is made of allicin and suffer-containing compounds.[3,4] The Kokumi response is derived from chemical compounds that include calcium, protamine, glutathione, and L-Histidine and are mostly connected with glutamyl-derived di- and tripeptides, such as the antioxidant glutathione present universally in all living tissues5}The discovery of kokumi peptide compounds can be used to replace harmful additives and reduce sodium content as well as sugar and noxious oils.[5,6] Foods containing this powerful kokumi substance are still being discovered, but include milk, onion, fish milt, yeast extract, shrimp paste, aged cheese, fermented soybeans and even some types of beer.
References
1.^ Bramen, L. (2010, January 27). The Kokumi Sensation. Retrieved May 1, 2019, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-kokumi-sensation-78634272/^
2. ^ Ohsu T, Amino Y, Nagasaki H, et al. Involvement of the calcium-sensing receptor in human taste perception. J Biol Chem. 2009;285(2):1016–1022. doi:10.1074/jbc.M109.029165.
3. ^ Yoichi Ueda, Makoto Sakaguchi, Kazuo Hirayama, Ryuichi Miyajima & Akimitsu Kimizuka (1990) Characteristic Flavor Constituents in Water Extract of Garlic, Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, 54:1, 163-169, DOI: 10.1080/00021369.1990.10869909 4. ^ Takeaki Ohsu, Yusuke Amino, Hiroaki Nagasaki, Tomohiko Yamanaka, Sen Takeshita, Toshihiro Hatanaka, Yutaka Maruyama, Naohiro Miyamura, and Yuzuru Eto, From the Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories, AminoScience Laboratories, Food Products Company, and Institute of Life Sciences, Ajinomoto Company, Incorporated, Kawasaki 210-8681, Japan 5. ^ "Difference Between UMAMI AND KOKUMI | Difference Between". Retrieved 30 April 2019. 6. ^ Chaudhari, N.; Roper, S.D. (1998) Molecular and physiological evidence for glutamate (umami) taste transduction via G protein-coupled receptor. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 855: 398-406.