Which flavor is considered the fifth basic taste?

• A. Sweet
• B. Umami
• C. Sour
• D. Salty

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that there are five basic tastes, and one of them is the savory, meat-like flavor known as umami. Umami is considered the fifth basic taste because it has a distinct perceptual quality and is triggered by glutamate and certain nucleotides, making it separate from the other four tastes. It was identified as a basic taste due to its unique receptor mechanisms and the specific foods that evoke it—things like broths, aged cheeses, soy sauce, mushrooms, and tomatoes all deliver that rich, savory sensation. In contrast, the other four basic tastes come from different chemical cues: sweetness from sugars, sourness from acids, saltiness from ions like sodium, and bitterness from a wide range of compounds. So the savory, umami flavor is the one recognized as the fifth basic taste.