Umami

Umami, the Japanese "fifth taste" (after salty, sweet, sour, and bitter), is a term often used in tea tasting. It is roughly translated as "astringency," and it creates a feeling of the tongue's surface shrinking when you experience it.

This week, there is an Umami Festival in NYC to celebrate food and art. Tonight there will be a salt tasting. Tomorrow's focus is on food and art. Next week, there will be several chef's panel discussions and a wine tasting. Perhaps next year, it will include tea.

Don't forget that the NYC Coffee and Tea Festival is this weekend! Congrats to those who won tickets through my blog! For everyone else, don't forget that you can get half-price tickets with the promo code "VEETEA." Perhaps I'll see you there!