PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel umami enhancing agent.SOLUTION: There is provided an umami enhancing agent containing methional and lower fatty acid ester or a salt thereof. There is provided the umami enhancing agent where the lower fatty acid ester is one or more kind of compound selected from ethyl-2-methyl propanoate, ethyl-4-methylpentanoate, ethyl-2-methylpentanoate, ethyl-3-methylbutanoate and ethyl-2-methylbutanoate. There is provide the umami enhancing agent containing further sodium chloride.EFFECT: A combination of methional and lower fatty acid ester excluding acetate ester has of the quality umami same as sodium glutamate.SELECTED DRAWING: NoneCOPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT