Umami Boosters

Unlock and enhance the ‘fifth basic taste’ with our range of umami boosters – Japanese ingredients that bring out the rich, savoury and meaty flavours of dishes like broths, ramen, sushi, stir-fries and more. From smoked soy and kombu seaweed to black garlic and mushroom powders, each ingredient is selected to intensify savoury depth and add harmony to  your cooking.

Shop our range of umami boosters today – including sauces, marinades, seasonings and even fresh ingredients – to kick your home-cooked dishes up a notch. 

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Bakasco Yuzu and Kaki Vinegar Pepper Sauce
Bakasco Yuzu and Kaki Vinegar Pepper Sauce – 60ml
£6.95 £9.95
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A silver pouch with a white cap and label showing yellow bottles and Japanese text contains Hakuko Sake Kasu Paste (sake lees) - 250g, adding rich umami flavor, displayed against a plain white background.
Hakuko Sake Kasu Paste (sake lees) - 250g
£12.95
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Shinmaya Bonito Fish Dashi Powder is an instant soup stock for Japanese dishes, featuring red, orange, and white packaging with Japanese text and a prepared soup image. Made with authentic bonito dashi powder.
Shinmaya Bonito Fish Dashi Powder
From £2.20
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A 300g square plastic container of Black Garlic Sugar – a blend of black garlic and cane sugar from South West Garlic Farm, ideal for BBQ marinades or creative savoury cooking.
Black Garlic Sugar - 300g
£4.75
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A clear glass bottle with a gold cap, labeled Black Ginger Syrup - 180ml in English and Japanese, contains dark brown ginger syrup valued for its health benefits.
Black Ginger Syrup - 180ml
£16.50
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Watanabe Tonburi - 280g: Clear square spice jar with a white lid holds dark Tonburi seeds, called vegan caviar. The front label displays Japanese text in white and green.
Watanabe Tonburi - 280g
£17.95
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A clear plastic pouch of Shio Koji - 1kg, a light beige paste made with Aspergillus oryzae, features a pink and white Japanese label and top spout—perfect for adding umami flavour to your dishes.
Shio Koji - 1kg
£20.50
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Yuzu Kararin, Yuzu Zest & Chilli Mix (35g) comes in a glass jar with a red lid and red label featuring Japanese text and a yellow circle, containing a granular Japanese condiment with yuzu zest and red chilli.
Yuzu Kararin, Yuzu Zest & Chilli Mix - 35g
£16.50
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Out of stock
Soy Hatcho Miso - 300g comes in a white resealable bag with red, black, and green label text and traditional design accents, crafted using a natural fermentation process.
Soy Hatcho Miso - 300g
£5.95
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A clear plastic pouch of Dried Aonori Seaweed Flakes (20g) with a white label in Japanese text—essential in Japanese cuisine.
Dried Aonori Seaweed Flakes - 20g
£3.95
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Out of stock
Sakura Cherry Wood Smoked Rice Vinegar - 200ml, in a gold-capped bottle with a white label and black kanji characters, traditionally crafted and photographed on white—ideal for marinating fish fillets.
Sakura Cherry Wood Smoked Rice Vinegar - 200ml
£15.95
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Three pieces of rich, dark chocolate brownies stacked on a white surface, subtly enhanced with the umami depth of 3 Year Aged Soy Freeze Dried 30g.
3 Year Aged Soy Freeze Dried 30g
£11.50
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Rishiri Kelp - 100g: Vacuum-sealed dried konbu seaweed with a white Japanese-labeled pack, prized for natural umami flavor and renowned health benefits.
Rishiri Kelp - 100g
£18.95
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A 22g resealable purple package of Tanaka Red Shiso Furikake, a popular Japanese rice seasoning, features an illustration of a red shiso leaf and flowers on the front.
Red Shiso Furikake "Tanaka" - 22g
£2.50
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Out of stock
A 580g plastic bottle of Shio Koji Condiment, known for tenderizing meat and adding umami, with a yellow label and white cap, is shown on a plain white background.
Shio Koji Condiment - 580g
£8.00 £11.50
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Gyoza Sauce - 200ml comes in a clear glass bottle with a yellow label, dark brown umami-rich sauce inside, and is sealed with a black cap.
Gyoza Sauce - 200ml
£10.50
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ajinomoto-msg-seasoning-powder-1kg
Ajinomoto Umami Seasoning MSG - 1kg
£6.50
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A 200ml bottle of Daikon Radish Ponzu Sauce, featuring a yellow label and green paper-wrapped cap, is shown on a white background. This Japanese condiment combines yuzu and sudachi juice for a tangy citrus flavor.
Daikon Radish Ponzu Sauce - 200ml
£7.50
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Out of stock
A small black bowl with pale yuzu-flavored sea salt sits before a standing silver packet labeled Yuzu Flavoured Sea Salt - 50g, featuring Japanese writing that suggests premium flavors from Kôchi.
Yuzu Flavoured Sea Salt - 50g
£7.50
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Umami-so Miso Seasoning with Truffle - 70g: A jar of powdered barley miso and bianchetto truffle seasoning with a black label, shown against a plain white background.
Umami-so Miso Seasoning with Truffle - 70g
£7.95
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A small glass jar with a transparent lid and an orange label featuring Japanese text contains Shichimi Spice with Mikan Peel (18g), a flavorful Japanese spice blend.
Shichimi Spice with Mikan Peel - 18g
£8.50
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Michikono 3 Citrus Ponzu Sauce (150ml) comes in a glass bottle with a black cap and yellow label decorated with Japanese text and green citrus fruit illustrations—a flavorful umami condiment.
Michikono 3 Citrus Ponzu sauce - 150ml
£9.50
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A 200ml glass bottle with a red cap, labeled in Japanese and featuring a tomato graphic, contains Kito Yuzu & Tomato Ponzu—a reddish-brown Japanese sauce inspired by Kito yuzu flavors.
Kito Yuzu & Tomato Ponzu - 200ml
£14.50
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A boxed Set of 5 Vinegars with Fruit & Raw Sugar, each with a white label and unique text, arranged in a single row on a white background—featuring delicious selections like fruit-infused vinegars crafted with raw sugar.
Set of 5 Vinegars with Fruit & Raw Sugar
£36.00
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What are umami boosters?

Translated as ‘pleasant savoury taste’, umami has been prevalent in Japanese cuisine for centuries, even before ‘umami’ as a concept was discovered. The delicious taste of umami was finally attributed to glutamic acid – an amino acid – in the early 20th century by a Japanese chemist. 

As one of the five basic tastes, umami is the savoury, meaty flavour that comes from amino acids and protein, and is commonly found in broths and cooked meats. Our Japanese 'umami boosters' are an incredible shortcut to add deep savoury flavour to meat dishes, stir-fries, soups and more.

Examples of umami seasoning in other food cultures might include Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, tomato paste, malt vinegar or fish sauce (often activated with lemon juice). For example, Worcestershire sauce is very similar to many Japanese umami boosters – it’s a fish-based sauce used to enhance the savoury meat flavours of steaks, hamburgers, and even Welsh rarebit! 

However, whilst Japanese umami boosters and ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce are similar, umami ingredients in Japanese cooking are often more delicate and complex. This is because Japanese cuisine tends to focus on minimalism and simplicity, letting each flavour shine through rather than being overpowered by one another.

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Award Winning

Great Taste Award Winners 5 Years Running
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We use 100% recylable packaging for all our orders
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We grow our wasabi in Dorset & Hampshire in South-West England
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Free Delivery

On all UK orders over £75
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Frequently asked questions

Many of our umami boosters are completely vegan, including our wasabi powder, miso paste, soy sauces, shiitake mushrooms and black garlic. Even though umami boosters are often used on meat, they also pair wonderfully with vegan foods such as tofu, seaweed, and mushrooms to enhance their hearty, savoury flavour. 

We also offer vegan dashi (shiitake mushrooms are used in the place of fish), but  always make sure to check the nutritional information on our products before you buy.

Umami boosters are used across a wide range of Japanese recipes, making them an incredibly versatile ingredient and a key addition to your pantry. For example, soy sauce is commonly used with sushi, as well as with various types of meat, fish and vegetables – like in this steak bowl recipe, this ramen dish, and even this salad recipe!

Miso paste is another popular umami booster, but whilst it’s commonly used for miso soup, this isn’t the only way you can incorporate it in your cooking. At The Wasabi Company, we have many different miso recipes to help you use this amazing ingredient in new ways, including our miso-glazed cod recipe, this shiitake and miso risotto, and even desserts such as miso caramel – adding a savoury kick to balance the sweet flavours and enhance their depth and complexity.

If you’re looking for amazing recipes where you can really taste the power of our umami boosters, why not browse The Wasabi Company recipes, or if you’re after  something different, why not check out our cookbooks and create something you’ve never tried before? 

Yes – all of our products have a full list of ingredients on their individual product page, with nutritional information included and possible allergens highlighted.

The shelf life of our umami boosters depends on the product; however, many umami boosters are designed to last a long time after opening – particularly sauces and seasonings. Keep containers out of direct sunlight and always properly close them after use to keep your sauces and seasonings for as long as possible. 

Umami boosters such as shiitake mushrooms and garlic may not last as long as sauces and seasonings and may need to be kept refrigerated. Always follow the instructions on the label or product page to keep your umami boosters fresh for longer. 

At The Wasabi Company, we often have offers and discounts for many of our products – so check out our offers page to see what great discounts we have on right now! Many of our products are available in larger formats which offer substantial savings.

UK customers who order over £75 worth of products automatically get free delivery.

Yes, customers who are local or are going to be in the area, can select “Pick Up At Store” at checkout and  collect their orders directly from our distribution centre, located in Waddock Cross, Dorchester, Dorset. Orders placed Monday to Thursday 11am can be collected the next day between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. 

Contact hello@thewasabicompany.co.uk to find out more. You can also find your nearest stockist right here.

Get inspired with some recipes

Smoky Homemade Baked Beans Recipe

Smoky Homemade Baked Beans Recipe

A smoky, umami-rich twist on a classic favourite, these beans are delicious on toast, as a side, or straight from...

Wasabi, Cucumber and Cauliflower Pickle Recipe

Wasabi, Cucumber and Cauliflower Pickle Recipe

My wasabi cucumber pickle is a recipe straight from my Mother’s garden in Japan. 

Time Saving Kaeshi Sauce Recipe

Time Saving Kaeshi Sauce Recipe

This simple kaeshi uses only soy sauce, mirin and sugar, without dashi, and it gives a clean and versatile flavour. 

Smoky Homemade Baked Beans Recipe

Smoky Homemade Baked Beans Recipe

A smoky, umami-rich twist on a classic favourite, these beans are delicious on toast, as a side, or straight from the pan for a hearty, flavour-packed meal.

Wasabi, Cucumber and Cauliflower Pickle Recipe

Wasabi, Cucumber and Cauliflower Pickle Recipe

My wasabi cucumber pickle is a recipe straight from my Mother’s garden in Japan. 

Time Saving Kaeshi Sauce Recipe

Time Saving Kaeshi Sauce Recipe

This simple kaeshi uses only soy sauce, mirin and sugar, without dashi, and it gives a clean and versatile flavour. 

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