Disclosed is a seasoning composition which is highly safe to the human body and has excellent sweetness and first taste. The seasoning composition can be used as an alternative to an animal protein hydrolysate without causing any problems. Specifically disclosed is a seasoning composition which contains a yeast extract that is obtained from yeast cells cultured under the conditions advantageous for the production of alanine. The seasoning composition contains 20% by weight or more of free alanine relative to the free amino acids.
