While Monosodium Glumate (MSG) is frowned upon by the American public, it is embraced by home and professional cooks in a number of Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand and China. In the Vietnamese language, MSG is referred to as bột ngọt or ‘sweet powder’—a term of affection if you will.
My grandmother continues to sprinkle sweet powder in all of her dishes, while my aunts have chosen to prepare their Vietnamese foods without. Just out of curiosity…
If the provided answers are insufficient, feel free to elaborate in the comments section. Also, check out this hilarious virtual rant—MSG: Slowly Poisoning America—that I stumbled upon while researching America’s relationship with MSG. My favorite part is where she talks about “sit down” restaurants.
