Glutamic acid is one of the most abundant non-essential amino acids in nature. In its free form, it provides Umami taste, which is unique and distinct from the other four basic tastes (salgado, candy, bitter and sour).
For being able to improve the taste of food, it is widely used by the industry. The most common way in which industry uses Umami taste is through the addition of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer classified in the safest category of food additives. There is a lot of scientific research that points out that glutamate, in addition to improving the taste of food, promotes a number of important health benefits.