The present disclosure relates to gingerol compounds, whether in their diol form or as a derivative, and their use to enhance the salty taste or the umami taste of a flavored article. The disclosure also provides compositions and flavored products containing such compounds. In some embodiments, the flavored products have reduced amounts of salt or umami-enhancing compounds (glutamates, arginates, purinic ribonucleotides, such as inosine monophosphate (IMP) and guanosine monophosphate (GMP)), relative to comparable flavored products that do not incorporate the gingerol compounds. The disclosure further provides methods of making monoacetate or diacetate derivatives of gingerol diols.