| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 民俗藝術與文化資產研究所 === 106 === The “umami” taste has a long history, and it can be found in many ingredients. However, initially, it was not traditionally defined as one of the five basic flavors. Instead, it was merely an adjective for describing flavorsome food. With the advancement of food technologies, the word transitioned from an adjective for describing the taste of food to the savory seasoning, monosodium glutamate (MSG), which was invented by the Japanese manufacturing giant, the Ajinomoto Corporation. This seasoning sold well in Taiwan during the Japanese Colonial Period. Considering this transition, this study aims to:
1. Investigate how Taiwanese Han people created umami in food before the invention of MSG.
2. Discuss the effects of traditional Japanese opinions of umami on the invention of MSG.
3. Study the relationship between MSG advertisements during the Japanese Colonial Period and the position of Taiwan in the world at that time.
Concerning the three points above, this article begins with a preliminary description of the definition and formation of “umami” and illustrates the prevalent umami foods and cooking methods among Taiwanese Han people under the rule of the Qing Dynasty. During the Japanese Colonial Period that followed, Taiwanese food culture was shaped by the introduction of Japanese cuisine. As a result, there was a larger variety of food and cooking methods, and the new food seasoning, MSG, was introduced to Taiwan. The successful sale of MSG in Taiwan could be attributed to the effective marketing model of the Ajinomoto Corporation and closely related factors such as the social climate and education curriculum during that period. Therefore, by analyzing the MSG advertisements, this study aims to understand marketing models and, more importantly, how these advertisements corresponded to Taiwan’s global position during that era and gradually led to the widespread popularity of MSG.
Research on MSG is an exploration based on scientific experiments, but it is also significant to the study of the history of humanity. Whether it discusses the influence of food culture or the impact of the marketing of MSG on its traditional significance, MSG research demonstrates the importance of MSG and umami.
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