Umami

We hear the word Umami being used very often on shows such as Masterchef. It denotes the 5th basic sensation felt by the tongue along with Sweet, Tart, Bitter and Salty. Apart from the main sensations, the palate also identifies astringent (raw fruits) and pungent (wasabi & dijon mustard) flavors.   Umami  was officially recognized…

God’s Own Country

Communism, they say, is dead. Post the dissolution of the USSR, only a handful of countries wave the red flag with the hammer and sickle. It’s interesting that, today, Kerala has the only elected Communist government within the most populated democracy in the world. Unlike West Bengal, which was ruled by a Communist party for 40…