The white powder arrived in a brown paper bag. I ripped it open to reveal the plastic packaging within, temptingly labelled "PURITY GREATER THAN 99 PER CENT". Endorphins triggered, I eagerly licked my finger, dipped it in, and applied a small quantity direct to my tongue, just to get a hit. I felt the impact immediately. It tasted like Chinese takeaway.
Such was my first experience mailordering MSG. It won’t be my last.
Monosodium glutamate, the umami seasoning frequently added to Chinese cuisine, is something I’d always been led to believe was harmful to your health. Growing up