Bebe Zito - Vanilla MSG

Vanilla MSG - Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Mono-Sodium Glutamate

 

Today we return to Bebe Zito of south Minneapolis for their Vanilla MSG flavor.  This is their twist on a simple vanilla flavor.  Two twists really.  The first twist is that they use the Tahitian variety of vanilla which is sweeter and has a more floral scent.  The second twist is that they add MSG -- or monosodium glutamate.  MSG got a bad rap when I was a kid an additive excessively used in some takeout restaurants but it is actually a very natural compound.  It is a salt of one of the twenty essential amino acids (glutamic acid) -- so it is present in almost all proteins.  There has been some study of MSG as a flavoring and it does provide an umami (or savory) flavor when it exists as a free salt (i.e. when not locked up in proteins).  This "free form" of glumate is what gives tomatoes and some cheeses their savory flavor.  So, you could call MSG a "savory salt".  So, how will this effect today's flavor?  It will be interesting to see how the sweeter, more floral Tahitian vanilla blends with the savory salt flavor of the MSG.

The top of the pint has a fluffy doughy look to it.  It has the color of dough as well - a light off-white beige.  Digging in, it has thick texture but it is still quite creamy.  I can see some of the bean specks blended in as well.  I can taste the vanilla, but it has 'earthy' quality to it as well.  It is hard to describe.  I do not specifically taste the MSG but perhaps it is the source of that earthy quality.  It also does not seem overly salty, although I did notice that I was a bit thirsty a half an hour after finishing the pint.

This is a fun an interesting twist on the standard pint of vanilla ice cream from Bebe Zito.  The sweet Tahitian vanilla and savory MSG blend is done quite well.  It has just enough MSG so that it alters and enhances the vanilla flavor but not so much that all you taste is the salt.  As with many of these interesting flavor blends, it would be best to sample it in the scoop shop first.  I don't think they are doing flavor samples in the scoop shop yet, though.  Hopefully soon.