MSG has a savory taste.
Umami -LRB- -LSB- uˈmɑːmi -RSB- -RRB- , or savory taste , is one of the five basic tastes -LRB- together with sweetness , sourness , bitterness , and saltiness -RRB- .. basic tastes. basic tastes. sweetness. sweetness. sourness. sourness. bitterness. bitterness. saltiness. saltiness. It has been described as brothy or meaty .. People taste umami through taste receptors specific to glutamate .. glutamate. Glutamic acid. Glutamate is widely present in savory foods , such as meat broths and fermented products , and commonly added to some foods in the form of monosodium glutamate -LRB- MSG -RRB- .. glutamate. Glutamic acid. monosodium glutamate. monosodium glutamate. Since umami has its own receptors rather than arising out of a combination of the traditionally recognized taste receptors , scientists now consider umami to be a distinct taste .