Umami

It is a gourmet product derived from White Garlic from Polesano PDO, with complex notes of licorice and a salty taste, reminiscent of balsamic vinegar and soy sauce.

UMAMI was founded by Gugliemo Lujan and his wife Alice Lujan in 2018. The brand was born from a combination of their professions – biologists, passionate about good food and obsessed with fermentation.

Currently, they are a team of young specialists in the food sector, after years of studies and research on fermented products, they have created black garlic and a series of unique products of their kind, placing themselves on the market as a proposal for products of the highest Italian quality.

The product transformation laboratory is located between the villages of Langhe and Roero, Italy. The area where the company is located is a UNESCO heritage, known worldwide for its gastronomy and wines, Umami is a new reality with innovative products and incredible versatility in the kitchen.

Umami products are used and sought after by lovers of gourmet products, the delicacies of this small village since 2018 have managed to reach the best cuisines of starred restaurants in Italy.

How is black garlic produced?
Umami’s Black Garlic is a gourmet product derived from Polesano PDO White Garlic. The brand uses a long maturation process with controlled temperature, ranging from 60 to 77°C (140 to 170°F), and humidity for about a month. No additives or preservatives are added.

What does Black Garlic taste like?
White garlic during its maturation loses its strong and spicy flavor while acquiring a soft texture and a licorice flavor and an umami flavor reminiscent of balsamic vinegar or soy sauce. For these reasons, it can be used to enhance the flavor of meats, fish, cheeses and vegetables.

How to use it?
Black garlic can be combined raw in any dish, it can also be used to prepare pasta or risotto. An alternative cream can be created by crushing black garlic cloves and simply adding oil, to use as a condiment or spread on toast or enrich vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Properties
Black garlic has a lower content of allicin, a chemical produced when raw garlic cloves are crushed or cut. Black garlic is considered a superfood thanks to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties.