Group Taste Concept Measurement: Verbal and Physical Definition of the Umami Taste Concept for Japanese and Americans

The umami taste concept for a group of judges was measured by a categorization task with food stimuli. The concept was defined to the judges in two ways: first, by verbal description and second, by presenting the judges with standard stimuli: broths made from kombu, katsuobushi and shiitake. The concepts obtained in both instances were close, both for Japanese and American judges. Thus, the umami term could be communicated relatively accurately in sales and marketing without the need for physical standards.