All Purpose MSG

What Is MSG?

MSG stands for “monosodium glutamate”. It's a pure form of glutamate, which is the natural ingredient that makes savoury foods like tomatoes or parmesan cheese so tasty. Adding it your food makes it taste better – without making it taste of something else.

Is MSG Artificial?

Glutamates are found naturally in all sorts of foods like tomatoes, mushrooms, aged cheeses and soy sauce. The MSG that we use is totally plant-based, and is made by fermenting vegetables in the same way that beer or wine is made. Pure MSG is no different from the glutamates that you’re already eating, and your body makes no distinction between the glutamates it encounters through MSG seasonings and the ones it encounters in other foods.

What Is MSG Made From?

MSG is made by fermenting vegetables; it’s not the product of some strange scientific or synthetic process. The most common source of MSG in the early 20th century was seaweed, but it’s now more common to source it from soy beans or sugar beets, since they’re a bit easier to harvest than seaweed. Our MSG is made from sugar beets.

How To Cook With MSG

MSG is synonomous with Asian cooking, but it will take all dishes up a few levels, just like salt does (we explain why in the box above!)

Use no more than the quantities that you’d use salt in your cooking - I actually use about half - and you won’t go too wrong.