emointhekitchen Zhajiangmian originated in Shandong, China and is a popular dish that has evolved into distinct versions across many cuisines both within and beyond China. The most well-known variation is arguably Beijing zhajiangmian (北京炸醬麵), which is recognized as one of the Ten Great Noodles of China (中國十大麵條). The name “zhajiangmian” translates to “fried sauce noodles” in English and is often referred to simply as “Beijing noodles.” Umami (MSG) In addition to the unique taste of the dish, there is an interesting ingredient that has been used to enhance flavours for over a century. This ingredient, monosodium glutamate (MSG), was discovered in 1909 and is known for providing the ‘umami‘ (うま味)…