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{{Short description|East Asian liquid condiment}}
{{Articleissues|Article=1|citations missing=January 2008|refimprove=January 2008|OR=January 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Chinese|pic=Soy sause display.JPG|picsize=200px|piccap=A bottle of Japanese soy sauce|s=1. 酱油<br>2. 豆油<br>3. 豉油|t=1. 醬油<br>2. 荳油<br>3. 豉油|p=1. jiàng yóu|j=3. si6 yau4|poj=2. dau4 yu5|kanji= 醤油 or 正油|hiragana=しょうゆ|revhep=shōyu|kunrei=syôyu|hangul=간장|rr=ganjang|mr=kanjang|qn=xì dầu, nước tương ''or'' tương|tha=ซีอิ๊ว (si-ew)}}
{{Infobox food
'''Soy sauce''' (]) or '''soya sauce''' (]) is a ] ] made from ] (soya beans), roasted ], ] and ]. The sauce, originating in ], is used widely in East and Southeast ]s and appears in some ] dishes.
| name = Soy sauce
| image = Soy sauce 2.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = A bowl of soy sauce
| alternate_name = Soya sauce, {{transliteration|zh|jiàngyóu}}, {{transliteration|ja|shoyu}}
| place_of_origin =]
| region = ] and ]
| associated_cuisine =
| creator =
| course =
| type = ]
| served =
| main_ingredient = ]
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
'''Soy sauce''' (sometimes called '''soya sauce''' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of SOY SAUCE |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soy%20sauce |website=www.merriam-webster.com |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>) is a liquid ] of ] origin, traditionally made from a ] paste of ]s, roasted ], ], and '']'' or '']'' ].<ref>
{{cite book |title=Microbiology Laboratory Theory and Application |last1=Leboffe |first1=Michael |last2=Pierce | first2=Burton |edition= 2nd |page=317 |isbn=9780895827081|date=30 July 2006 |publisher=Morton Publishing Company }}</ref> It is recognized for its saltiness and pronounced ] taste.


Soy sauce was created in its current form about 2,200 years ago during the ] of ancient China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flavorandfortune.com/dataaccess/article.php?ID=239|title=Soy Sauce, China's Liquid Spice|website=www.flavorandfortune.com|access-date=7 November 2016|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052336/http://www.flavorandfortune.com/dataaccess/article.php?ID=239|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="web1" /><ref name="needham2000jiang" /><ref name="needham2000" /> Since then, it has become an important ingredient in East and ] as well as a condiment worldwide.<ref>Tanaka, Norio. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226200239/http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/publish/periodic/jfn/pdf/jfn27_2.pdf |date=26 February 2009 }} ''The Japan Foundation Newsletter'' Vol. XXVII, No. 2 (January 2000), p. 2.</ref>
==Production==
].]]
===Traditional===
Authentic soy sauces are mixed with yeast or ''kōji'' (], the mold '']'' or '']'') and other related ]. Traditionally soy sauces were fermented under natural conditions, such as in giant urns and under the sun, which was believed to contribute to additional flavours. These days most of the commercially-produced counterparts are fermented under machine-controlled environments instead.


== Use and storage ==
Although there are many types of soy sauce, all are salty and earthy-tasting brownish liquids used to season food while cooking or at the table. Soy sauce has a distinct ] called ] by the Japanese and "xiān wèi" (]], 鮮味 lit. "fresh taste") by the Chinese. Umami was first identified as a basic taste in 1908 by ] of the ]. The ] which naturally occur in soy sauce are what give it this taste quality.
Soy sauce can be added directly to food, and is used as a dip or ] flavor in cooking.<ref name=":25">{{Cite book |title=Traditional and modern Japanese soy foods : manufacturing, nutrition and cuisine of a variety of soy foods for health and joy of taste |date=14 May 2014 |publisher=Nova Science Publishers |others=Ohyama, Takuji |isbn=9781626186071 |location=Hauppauge, New York |oclc=858282101}}</ref> It is often eaten with ], ], and ] or ], or can also be mixed with ground ] for dipping.<ref name=":25"/> Bottles of soy sauce for the salty seasoning of various foods are common on restaurant tables in many countries.<ref name=":25"/> Soy sauce can be stored at room temperature.<ref name=":25"/>


== History ==
Soy sauce should be stored away from direct sunlight.
=== Asia ===
==== China ====
{{Infobox Chinese
| s = 酱油 / 豆油 / 豉油
| t = 醬油 / 豆油 / 豉油
| l = "sauce oil" / "bean oil" / "fermented bean oil"
| p = jiàng yóu(酱油)<!--l = "sauce oil"-->
| w = chiang<sup>4</sup>-yu<sup>2</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|j|iang|4|.|you|2}}
| bpmf = ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄧㄡˊ
| sic = dou<sup>4</sup> you<sup>2</sup>(豆油)
| j = si6 jau4(-{豉油}-)<!--l2 = "fermented bean oil"-->
| y = sih yàuh
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|s|i|6|-|j|au|4}} <!-- teo2 = si<sup>7</sup> iu<sup>5</sup> -->
| teo = si<sup>7</sup> iu<sup>5</sup>
| poj = tāu-iû(豆油)<!--l3 = "bean oil"--> <!-- tl3 = tāu-iû -->
| buc = siê-iù(-{豉油}-)
| lmz = jianhhiou(酱油)
| sha =
| hangul = 간장
| hanja = 간醬
| lk = "seasoning sauce"
| rr = ganjang
| mr = kanjang
| my = ပဲငံပြာရည်
| bi = {{IPA-my|pɛ́ ŋàɰ̃ bjà jè|}} <!-- pɛ́ ŋàɴ byà yè -->
| kanji = 醤油
| hiragana = しょうゆ
| revhep = shōyu
| kunrei = syôyu
| chunom = 豉油 / 渃醬 / 豆味油
| qn = xì dầu / nước tương / tàu vị yểu <!--
| qn = xì dầu (thị du)<br/>nước tương
| hn = 豉油<br/>渃醬 -->
| tha = ซีอิ๊ว
| rtgs = si-io
| tgl = toyo
| ind = kecap
| msa = kicap
| khm = ស៊ីអ៊ីវ (sii ’iiv)
| lao = ເຕົ້າຈ້ຽວ (tao chiāu)
}}


Soy sauce ({{lang|zh|醬油}}, {{transliteration|zh|jiàngyóu}}) is considered almost as old as soy paste—a type of fermented paste ({{transliteration|zh|jiang}}, {{lang|zh|醬}}) obtained from soybeans—which had appeared during the ] (206 BC – 220 AD) and was listed in the bamboo slips found in the archaeological site ] ({{lang|zh|馬王堆}}).<ref name="needham2000jiang">{{cite book|last=Hsing-Tsung|first=Huang|title=Joseph Needham: Science and Civilisation in China, Vol.6, Part 5|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=2000|isbn=978-0521652704|page=346}}</ref><ref name="web1">{{Cite web |url=http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/www.godpp.gov.cn/wmzh/2007-10/11/content_11376810.htm |title=調料文化:醬油的由來 |date=30 January 2012 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130171757/http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/www.godpp.gov.cn/wmzh/2007-10/11/content_11376810.htm |archive-date=30 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are several precursors of soy sauce that are associated products with soy paste. The oldest is {{transliteration|zh|qingjiang}} ({{lang|zh|清醬}}), which appeared in AD 40 and was listed in {{transliteration|zh|Simin Yueling}} ({{lang|zh|]}}).<ref name="needham2000">{{cite book|last=Hsing-Tsung|first=Huang|title=Joseph Needham: Science and Civilisation in China, Vol.6, Part 5|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=2000|isbn=978-0521652704|pages=358–359}}</ref> Others are {{transliteration|zh|jiangqing}} ({{lang|zh|醬清}}), {{transliteration|zh|chizhi}} ({{lang|zh|豉汁}}) and {{transliteration|zh|chiqing}} ({{lang|zh|豉清}}), which were recorded in the {{transliteration|zh|]}} ({{lang|zh|]}}) in AD 540.<ref name="needham2000" /> By the time of the ] (960–1279 AD), the term ''soy sauce'' ({{lang|zh|醬油}}) had become the accepted name for the liquid condiment,<ref name="needham2000" /> documented in two books: {{transliteration|zh|Shanjia Qinggong}} ({{lang|zh|山家清供}})<ref>{{cite book
===Artificially hydrolyzed===
|author=林洪|title=山家清供|url=https://zh.wikisource.org/zh/%E5%B1%B1%E5%AE%B6%E6%B8%85%E4%BE%9B|author-link=:zh:林洪 (宋朝進士)}}</ref> and '']'' ({{lang|zh|浦江吳氏中饋錄}})<ref>{{cite book|author=浦江吴氏|title=浦江吳氏中饋錄|url=http://ctext.org/wiki.pl?if=gb&chapter=150543&remap=gb}}</ref> during the ] (960–1279 AD).
Many cheaper brands of soy-sauces are made from ] ] instead of brewed from natural bacterial and fungal cultures. These soy sauces do not have the natural color of authentic soy sauces and are typically colored with ].


Like many salty condiments, soy sauce was originally a way to stretch ], historically an expensive commodity. During the ] of ancient China, fermented fish with salt was used as a condiment in which soybeans were included during the fermentation process.<ref name="web1" /><ref>]</ref> By the time of the ], this had been replaced with the recipe for soy paste and its by-product soy sauce, by using soybeans as the principal ingredient,<ref name="needham2000jiang" /><ref name="needham2000" /> with fermented fish-based sauces developing separately into ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Kurlansky|first=Mark|title=Salt: A world history|date=2002|publisher=Walker and Co.|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8027-1373-5|page=20|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kK7ec92n5x8C}}</ref>
Additionally, many of these artificial soy-sauces pose a potential health risks due to their content of unsafe substances <ref name = "SoySauceRecall">{{cite press release | author = Food Standards Agency | title = Some Soy Sauce Products To Be Removed | url = http://www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/2001/jun/soysaucerecall | publisher = Food Standards Agency | date = ] | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref>.


The 19th century Sinologist ] wrote that in China, the best soy sauce was "made by boiling beans soft, adding an equal quantity of wheat or barley, and leaving the mass to ferment; a portion of salt and three times as much water are afterwards put in, and the whole compound left for two or three months when the liquid is pressed and strained".<ref>] (1848), ''The Middle Kingdom: A Survey of the Geography, Government, Education, Social Life, Arts, Religion, &c. of the Chinese Empire and Its Inhabitants'', 2 vol. Wiley & Putnam</ref>
==Types==
Soy sauce originated in ancient ] and has since been integrated into the traditional cuisines of many ]n and ]n cultures. Soy sauce is widely used as a particularly important flavoring in ], ], ], and ]. However, it is important to note that despite its rather similar appearance, soy sauces produced in different cultures and regions are very different in taste, consistency, fragrance and saltiness. As such, it may not be appropriate to substitute soy sauces of one culture or region for another.


=== Chinese soy sauce === ===={{anchor|Japan}}Japan====
] ], flavored with soy sauce]]
Chinese soy sauce (jiàngyóu/chǐyóu, 酱油/豉油) is primarily made from ], with relatively low amounts of other grains. There are two main varieties:


A condiment that predated soy sauce in Japan was {{nihongo||魚醤|]}}, a fish sauce.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Hosking |first=Richard |title=A dictionary of Japanese food : ingredients & culture |date=24 February 2015 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |others=Ishige, Naomichi. |isbn=9781462903436 |edition=First |location=Tokyo, Japan |oclc=876044632}}</ref> When practitioners of ] came to Japan from China in the 7th century,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GwpsVDKQcSUC|title=Biotechnology and genetic engineering|last=Wilson|first=Kathy|publisher=Facts on File|date=2010|isbn=978-0-8160-7784-7|location=New York|pages=90}}</ref> they introduced ] and brought many soy-based products with them, such as soy sauce,<ref name=":13"/> which is known as {{nihongo||醤油|shōyu}}<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last1=Sugiura|first1=K.|last2=Sugiura|first2=M.|date=Fall 2019|title=Soy Sauce Allergy|journal=Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology|volume=24|issue=7|pages=852–855|doi=10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03512.x|pmid=19943834|s2cid=26089906}}</ref><ref name=":25"/> in Japan. {{transliteration|ja|Shoyu}} exportation began in 1647 by the ].<ref name=":25"/>
*Light or fresh soy sauce ("shēngchōu"; ]]): A thin (as in non-viscous), opaque, dark brown soy sauce. It is the main soy sauce used for seasoning, since it is saltier, but it also adds flavour. Since it is lighter in color, it does not greatly affect the color of the dish. The light soy sauce made from the first pressing of the soybeans is called '''tóuchōu''' (头抽 or 頭抽), which can be loosely translated as first soy sauce or referred to as premium light soy sauce. Touchōu is sold at a premium because, like extra virgin olive oil, the flavor of the first pressing is considered superior. An additional classification of light soy sauce, shuānghuáng (雙璜), is double-fermented to add further complexity to the flavour. These latter two more delicate types are usually for dipping.
*Dark/old soy sauce ("lǎochōu"; ]]) : A darker and slightly thicker soy sauce that is aged longer and contains added ] to give it its distinctive appearance. This variety is mainly used during cooking since its flavour develops under heating. It has a richer, slightly sweeter, and less salty flavour than light soy sauce. Dark soy sauce is partly used to add color and flavour to a dish.


==== Korea ====
In traditional Chinese cooking, one of the two types, or a mixture of both, is employed to achieve a particular flavour and colour for the dish.
The earliest soy sauce brewing in ] seems to have begun in the era of the ]<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailian.co.kr/news/view/47103|script-title=ko:항암효과가 탁월한 우리의 구수한 된장|last=강|first=명기|date=20 October 2006|access-date=9 November 2016|language=ko|trans-title=Our flavourful doenjang with potent antitumor effect|newspaper={{ill|Dailian|ko|데일리안}}}}</ref> The '']'', a ] historical text written and published in the 3rd century, mentions that "] people are good at brewing and fermenting" in the section named {{transliteration|ko|]}} (Eastern foreigners) in the '']''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://weekly.hankooki.com/lpage/coverstory/201301/wk20130109202047121180.htm|script-title=ko:바람이 말리고 세월이 삭힌 깊은 맛|last=황|first=광해|date=9 January 2013|access-date=9 November 2016|language=ko|trans-title=Deep flavour, dried by wind and fermented by time|newspaper=Weekly Hankook}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://koreana.kf.or.kr/pdf_file/2004/2004_SPRING_E062.pdf|title=Ganjang and Doenjang: Traditional Fermented Seasonings|last=Koo|first=Chun-Sur|date=Spring 2004|access-date=9 November 2016|publisher=]|issue=1|volume=18|newspaper=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109223426/http://koreana.kf.or.kr/pdf_file/2004/2004_SPRING_E062.pdf|archive-date=9 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> ] used for soy sauce brewing are found in the ] paintings of ] from the 4th century ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://vip.mk.co.kr/news/view/21/20/1340065.html|script-title=ko:행복을 부르는 맛 '간장'...집에서 만든 만능간장소스 하나면 OK|last=신|first=동민|date=9 November 2015|access-date=9 November 2016|issue=1831|trans-title=Ganjang, the flavour that brings happiness... Home-made versatile ganjang sauce is all you need|newspaper=Maekyung Economy}}</ref>


In {{transliteration|ko|]}}, a historical record of the ], it is written that {{transliteration|ko|ganjang}} (soy sauce) and {{transliteration|ko|]}} (soybean paste), along with {{transliteration|ko|]}} (soybean block) and {{transliteration|ko|]}} (salted seafood), were prepared for the ] of the ] in February 683.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://pub.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?cate=C03&mcate=M1006&nNewsNumb=20160119157&nidx=19158|script-title=ko:신라시대에 왕비 폐백품목에도 있었던 식품은?|last=하|first=상도|date=11 January 2016|newspaper=Chosun pub|language=ko|trans-title=Guess what food was used for pyebaek ceremony of a Silla queen|access-date=9 November 2016|archive-date=25 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125232520/http://pub.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?cate=C03&mcate=M1006&nNewsNumb=20160119157&nidx=19158|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{transliteration|ko|]}}, a section from {{transliteration|ko|]}} (History of Goryeo), recorded that {{transliteration|ko|ganjang}} and {{transliteration|ko|doenjang}} were included in the relief supplies in 1018, after a ], and in 1052, when a ] occurred.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://travel.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/18/2012011801485.html|script-title=ko:정월에 담근 장이 가장 맛있다는데...|last=김|first=성윤|date=19 January 2012|newspaper=]|language=ko|trans-title=Jang tastes the best when made in the first month of the year (in the Lunar calendar)|access-date=9 November 2016|archive-date=4 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304183809/http://travel.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/18/2012011801485.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ] texts such as {{transliteration|ko|]}} and {{transliteration|ko|]}} contain the detailed procedures on how to brew good quality {{transliteration|ko|ganjang}} and {{transliteration|ko|doenjang}}.<ref name=":3" /> {{transliteration|ko|]}} explains how to pick a date for brewing, what to forbear, and how to keep and preserve {{transliteration|ko|ganjang}} and {{transliteration|ko|doenjang}}.<ref name=":4" />
Other types:


====Philippines====
*Thick soy sauce ("jiàngyóugāo", 醬油膏 or 蔭油膏): Dark soy sauce that has been thickened with starch and sugar. It is also occasionally flavored with ]. This sauce is not usually used directly in cooking but more often as a ] or poured on food as a flavorful addition.
In the ], soy sauce was likely first recorded through the documentation of the traditional dish ] in 1613 via the San Buenaventura paper. Food historian Raymond Sokolov noted that the ingredients used in the dish, including soy sauce, likely were present in the native cuisine even before the colonial-era record.<ref>Adobo: The History Behind A National Favorite. Pepper Magazine.</ref>
*] (huángjiàng 黄酱): Although not really a soy sauce, it is another salty soy product. It is one of the main ingredients in a dish called '']'' (]]], lit. "fried paste noodles").


=== Europe ===
In ] and ], soy sauce in general is dòuyóu (豆油); dark soy sauce is called jiàngyóu (醬油) and light soy sauce is jiàngqīng (醬清). ''Angmoh tauyew'' (紅貌豆油), lit. "foreigners' soy sauce" is the ] name for ].
Records of the ] list soy sauce as a commodity in 1737, when seventy-five large barrels were shipped from ], Japan, to Batavia (present-day ]) on the island of ]. Thirty-five barrels from that shipment were then shipped to the Netherlands.<ref>Tanaka, p. 6.</ref> In the 18th century, diplomat and scholar ] published accounts of brewing soy sauce. Although earlier descriptions of soy sauce had been disseminated in the West, his was among the earliest to focus specifically on the brewing of the Japanese version.<ref>Titsingh, Isaac. (1781). "''Bereiding van de Soya"'' ("Producing Soy Sauce"), , Vol. III. </ref> By the mid-19th century, Japanese soy sauce gradually disappeared from the European market, and the condiment became synonymous with the Chinese product.<ref name=tanaka7 /> Europeans were unable to make soy sauce because they did not have access to '']'', the fungus used in its brewing.<ref name=tanaka7>Tanaka, p. 7.</ref> Soy sauce made from ingredients such as ] were disseminated in European cookbooks during the late 18th century. A Swedish recipe for {{lang|sv|"Soija"}} was published in the 1770 edition of ]'s {{lang|sv|Hjelpreda i Hushållningen för Unga Fruentimber}} and was flavored with ] and ].<ref>Warg, Cajsa (1770) ''Hjelpreda i Hushållningen för Unga Fruentimber'', "]" pp. 70—71 of the appendix</ref>


=== United States ===
In January 2004, ] ran an investigative report on a ] province factory that manufactured inexpensive soy sauce. It was discovered that the manufacturer was using liquid amino acid extracted from human hair to make artificial soy sauce. Hair were obtained from various sources, which included barber shops and local hospital waste. These "soy" sauces could present food safety issues. After the release of this report, the factory was closed down.<ref name = "cctv">{{cite news | url = http://www.cctv.com/news/financial/inland/20040104/100389_1.shtml | title = CCTV Weekly Quality Report (Chinese) | date = ] | accessdate = 2008-01-08 | work = ]}}</ref>
Soy sauce production in the United States began in the ] in 1905 by Yamajo Soy Co, which by 1909 was renamed the Hawaiian Soy Company Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soyinfocenter.com/books/146|title=How Japanese and Japanese-Americans Brought Soyfoods to the United States and the Hawaiian Islands - A History (1851-2011) - SoyInfo Center|website=www.soyinfocenter.com}}</ref> ] started selling ]–based soy sauce in 1933.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.soyinfocenter.com/HSS/soy_sauce7.php |title=History of Soy Sauce, Shoyu, and Tamari – Page 7 |last1=Shurtleff |first1=William |author-link=William Shurtleff |last2=Aoyagi |first2=Akiko |author-link2=Akiko Aoyagi|date=2004 |website=Soy Info Center |access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref>


=== Indonesian soy sauce === == Production ==
].]] ]s.]]
Soy sauce is made either by fermentation or by ]. Some commercial sauces have both fermented and chemical sauces.


Flavor, color, and aroma developments during production are attributed to non-enzymatic ].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lertsiri|first1=Sittiwat|last2=Maungma|first2=Roungdao|last3=Assavanig|first3=Apinya|last4=Bhumiratana|first4=Amaret|date=1 May 2001|title=Roles of the Maillard Reaction in Browning During Moromi Process of Thai Soy Sauce|journal=Journal of Food Processing and Preservation |volume=25|issue=2|pages=149–162|doi=10.1111/j.1745-4549.2001.tb00450.x|issn=1745-4549|doi-access=free}}</ref>
In ], soy sauce is known as ''kecap'' (or ''ketjap'') (a catchall term for fermented sauces) from which according to one theory the English word "]" is derived. Two main varieties exist:


Variation is usually achieved as the result of different methods and durations of ], different ratios of water, ], and fermented soy, or through the addition of other ingredients.
; Kecap asin : Salty soy sauce, which is very similar to Chinese light soy sauce, but usually somewhat thicker and has a stronger flavor; it can be replaced by light Chinese soy sauce in recipes.
; Kecap manis : Sweet soy sauce, which has a thick, almost syrupy consistency and a pronounced sweet, ]-like flavor due to generous addition of ]. It is a unique variety; in a pinch, it may be replaced by molasses with a little vegetable stock stirred in.


=== Traditional ===
''Kecap inggris'' ("English fermented sauce"), or ''saus inggris'' ("English sauce") is the ] name for ]. ''Kecap Ikan'' is Indonesian ].
{{Further|Soup soy sauce#Production}}


Traditional soy sauces are made by mixing soybeans and grain with mold cultures such as '']'' and other related ]s and yeasts (the resulting mixture is called ] in Japan; the term {{transliteration|ja|koji}} is used both for the mixture of soybeans, wheat, and mold as well as for the mold itself). Historically, the mixture was fermented naturally in large urns and under the sun, which was believed to contribute extra flavors. Today, the mixture is placed in a temperature- and humidity-controlled incubation chamber.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.san-j.com/history.asp|title=Tamari, Soy Sauce – San-J|website=san-j.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218155943/http://www.san-j.com/history.asp|archive-date=18 February 2011}}</ref>
===Malaysian soy sauce===
Malaysia, which has cultural links with Indonesia, uses the word 'kicap' for soy sauce. Kicap is traditionally of two types: kicap lemak and kicap cair. Kicap lemak is similar to kecap manis but with very much less sugar while kicap cair is the Malaysian equivalent of kecap asin. However the Indonesian style kecap manis has now its Malaysian equivalents due to the increasing number of Malay producers in what used to be a Chinese dominated industry. Kicap is an important condiment in Malay and Malaysian Chinese cuisine. Kicap has also entered the Malaysian Indian cuisine. A popular dish is the Indian Muslim 'daging masak hitam' which is basically beef or mutton stewed in a sweet spicy kicap-based sauce. Some people add some kicap to their rice and curry to spice up the meal. Many Malaysian children's favourite dish is rice with kicap and fried eggs.


Traditional soy sauces take months to make:
=== Japanese soy sauce ===<!-- This section is linked from ] -->
# Soaking and cooking: The soybeans are soaked in water and boiled until cooked. Wheat is roasted and crushed.
]
# {{transliteration|ja|Koji}} culturing: Equal amounts of boiled soybeans and roasted wheat are mixed to form a grain mixture. A culture of Aspergillus spore is added to the grain mixture and mixed, or the mixture is allowed to gather spores from the environment itself. The cultures include:
#* '']'': a ] of fungus that is used for fermenting various ingredients (the cultures are called {{transliteration|ja|koji}} in Japanese). Three species are used for brewing soy sauce:
#** '']'': Strains with high ] capacity are used for brewing soy sauce.<ref>{{cite book|last=Maheshwari|first=D.K.|title=Industrial exploitation of microorganisms|date=2010|publisher=I.K. International Pub. House|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-93-8002-653-4|page=242|author2=Dubey, R.C. |author3=Saravanamuthu, R. }}</ref>
#** '']'': This fungus also has a high proteolytic capacity.
#** '']'':<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dorner|first=J W|date=December 1983|title=Production of cyclopiazonic acid by Aspergillus tamarii Kita|pmc=239590|journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology|volume=46|issue=6|pages=1435–1437|issn=0099-2240|pmid=6660879|doi=10.1128/AEM.46.6.1435-1437.1983|bibcode=1983ApEnM..46.1435D}}</ref> This fungus is used for brewing {{transliteration|ja|tamari}}, a variety of soy sauce.
#* '']'': the yeasts in the culture convert some of the sugars to ethanol which can undergo secondary reactions to make other flavor compounds
#* Other microbes contained in the culture:
#** ''Bacillus spp''. (genus): This organism is likely to grow in soy sauce ingredients, and to generate odors and ammonia.
#** ''Lactobacillus species'': This organism makes a lactic acid that increases the acidity in the feed.
# Brewing: The cultured grain mixture is mixed into a specific amount of salt ] for wet fermentation or with coarse salt for dry fermentation and left to brew. Over time, the Aspergillus mold on the soy and wheat break down the grain proteins into free amino acid and protein fragments and starches into simple sugars. This amino-glycosidic reaction gives soy sauce its dark brown color. Lactic acid bacteria ferments the sugars into lactic acid and yeast makes ethanol, which through aging and secondary fermentation makes numerous flavor compounds typical of soy sauce.
# Pressing: The fully fermented grain slurry is placed into cloth-lined containers and pressed to separate the solids from the liquid soy sauce. The isolated solids are used as fertilizer or fed to animals while the liquid soy sauce is processed further.
# Pasteurization: The raw soy sauce is heated to eliminate any active yeasts and molds remaining in the soy sauce and can be filtered to remove any fine particulates.
# Storage: The soy sauce can be aged or directly bottled and sold.


]
Japanese soy sauce or ''shō-yu'' (しょうゆ, or ]], ]]), is traditionally divided into 5 main categories depending on differences in their ingredients and method of production. Japanese soy sauces include ] as a primary ingredient and this tends to give them a slightly sweeter taste than their Chinese counterparts. They also have an alcoholic ]-like flavor. Japanese and Chinese soy sauces are not really interchangeable. In recipes, Chinese dark soy sauce comes closer to the Japanese sauce in overall flavor, but not in the intensity of the flavor or the texture.


=== High-salt liquid-state fermented soy sauce ===
; Koikuchi (]]) : Originating in the ], its usage eventually spread all over Japan. Over 80% of the Japanese domestic soy sauce production is of koikuchi, and can be considered the typical Japanese soy sauce. It is produced from roughly equal quantities of soybean and wheat. This variety is also called ''kijōyu'' (]]]) or ''namashōyu'' (生しょうゆ) when it is not ].
High-salt liquid-state fermentation (HLF) of soybeans depends heavily on microbial activity, metabolism and enzymatic hydrolysis of macronutrients. Most traditional approaches fall into the scope of HLF.<ref name=ZH-D/>
; Usukuchi (]]) : Particularly popular in the ] region of Japan, it is both saltier and lighter in color than ''koikuchi''. The lighter color arises from the usage of ], a sweet liquid made from fermented rice, that is used in its production.
; Tamari (たまり) : Produced mainly in the ] of Japan, tamari is darker in appearance and richer in flavour than ''koikuchi''. It contains little or no wheat; wheat-free tamari is popular among people eating a ]. It is the "original" Japanese soy sauce, as its recipe is closest to the soy sauce originally introduced to Japan from China. Technically, this variety is known as ''miso-damari'' (味噌溜り), as this is the liquid that runs off ] as it ].
; Shiro (], lit. "white") : A very light colored soy sauce. In contrast to "tamari" soy sauce, "shiro" soy sauce uses mostly wheat and very little soybean, lending it a light appearance and sweet taste. It is more commonly used in the Kansai region to highlight the appearances of food, for example ].
; Saishikomi (再仕込, twice-brewed) : This variety substitutes previously-made koikuchi for the brine normally used in the process. Consequently, it is much darker and more strongly flavored. This type is also known as ''kanro shoyu'' (甘露 醤油) or "sweet shoyu".


*During HLF, {{transliteration|ja|koji}}-infused soybeans are exposed to air so that hydrolytic enzymes of the mold can continuously break down macronutrients within the soybean.
]
*Ample water, usually about 2 to 2.5 times the weight of the feed,<ref name=ZH-D/> is required to support sufficient microbial growth.
*High salt concentration (17–20%) is required to selectively inhibit microbial activity.
* HLF is generally carried out at {{cvt|15–30|°C}}, and requires a long ageing period, usually from 90 to 180 days.<ref name="FengEtAl">{{cite journal|last1=Feng|first1=Yunzi|last2=Cai|first2=Yu|last3=Su|first3=Guowan|last4=Zhao|first4=Haifeng|last5=Wang|first5=Chenxia|last6=Zhao|first6=Mouming|title=Evaluation of aroma differences between high-salt liquid-state fermentation and low-salt solid-state fermentation soy sauces from China|journal=Food Chemistry|date=February 2014|volume=145|pages=126–134|doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.072|pmid=24128458}}</ref> In the aging period, constant stirring of {{transliteration|ja|moromi}} (a mash/mixture of wheat (optionally), salt, soy beans, water, and fermenting yeast) is required for distributing nutrients, as well as flavoring compounds evenly. In some cases, moromi is exposed to direct sunlight to facilitate the decomposition of macronutrients.
*Due to the high salinity of HLF moromi, only anaerobic halophiles can survive in the medium. Also, the {{cvt|15–30|°C}} temperature range allows only the growth of mesophiles. Similar to the fermentation of ], the primary lactic acid fermentation of sugars by halophiles reduces the pH of moromi down to acidic range.<ref name="FengEtAl"/> Low pH further limits the growth of undesirable microbes, but favors the growth of fermentative yeast which contributes to secondary fermentation that generates various flavoring compounds and odorants.


Newer varieties of Japanese soy sauce include: === Low-salt solid-state fermented soy sauce===
LSF, also referred as rapid fermenting, is a modern fermentation method invented in response to high market demand.


*Compared to HLF, LSF employs pure cultures at a relatively higher temperature ({{cvt|40–55|°C}}) and lower brine solution concentrations (13–15%). In LSF, koji is mixed with the equivalent weight of brine to form solid moromi.
; Gen'en (]]) : Low-salt soy sauces also exist, but are not considered to be a separate variety of soy sauce, since the reduction in salt content is a process performed outside of the standard manufacture of soy sauce.
*The elevated temperature accelerates the fermentation process significantly. Due to the short aging (15–30 days) period of LSF, and low production cost, LSF soy sauce accounts for more share of the Chinese soy sauce market.<ref>{{cite web|title=2017年中国酱油产量、出口量、进口量及表观消费量走势分析【图】_中国产业信息网|url=http://www.chyxx.com/industry/201707/541608.html|website=www.chyxx.com}}</ref>
; Amakuchi (]]) : Called "Hawaiian soy sauce" in those few parts of the US familiar with it, this is a variant of "koikuchi" soy sauce.


LSF evolved from ''salt-free solid-state fermentation'', an even faster method working at even higher temperatures ({{cvt|50–65|°C}}) and taking 72 hours to complete,<ref name=HEChangzhi>{{cite book |last1=HE |first1=Changzhi |title=食品知识手册 |date=March 1991 |publisher=中国轻工业出版社 |location=Beijing |isbn=7-5019-0537-1 |url=http://61.134.53.202:81/refbook/detail.aspx?QUERYID=7&CURREC=1&RECID=R2008081430000602 |language=zh |chapter=601 固态低盐发酵; 602 固态无盐发酵 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> introduced to China from the ] in 1958. The aging time turned out to be too short develop a proper flavor profile, with burnt acidic notes left in the sauce. LSF is a compromise between this method and the more traditional HLF: the product tastes passable with more microbes allowed to survive, but still lacks depth.<ref name=ZH-D/> Reducing the salt content accelerates brewing by lifting salt-induced enzyme inhibition.<ref name=HEChangzhi/>
All of these varieties are sold in the marketplace in three different grades according to how they were produced:


=== Acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein ===
; Honjōzō hōshiki (本醸造 方式) : Contains 100% naturally fermented product.
{{main|Hydrolyzed vegetable protein}}
; Shinshiki hōshiki (新式 方式) : Contains 30-50% naturally fermented product.
Some brands of soy sauce are made from acid-] ] instead of brewed with a traditional culture. This takes about three days.<ref name=kores>{{cite web |url=http://www.koreanrestaurantguide.com/health/health_soy.htm |title=Korean Restaurant Guide article on soy sauce |publisher=Koreanrestaurantguide.com |access-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927152844/http://koreanrestaurantguide.com/health/health_soy.htm |archive-date=27 September 2010 }}</ref> Although they have a different flavor, aroma, and texture when compared to brewed soy sauces, they can be produced more quickly and cheaply, and also have a longer shelf life and are usually made for these reasons. The clear plastic ] of dark sauce common with Chinese-style take-out food typically use a hydrolyzed vegetable protein formula. Some higher-priced hydrolyzed vegetable protein products with no added sugar or colorings are sold as low-sodium soy sauce alternatives called "'''liquid aminos'''" in health food stores, similar to the way ]s are used. These products are, however, not necessarily low in sodium.
; Aminosanekikongō hōshiki (アミノ酸混合 方式) : Contains 0% fermented product; is a modified vegetable extract. This is referred to as "liquid aminos" in the US and Canada.
; Tennen jōzō (天然 醸造) : Means no added ingredients except alcohol.
All the varieties and grades may be sold according to three official levels of quality:
; Hyōjun (標準) : Standard pasteurized.
; Tokkyū (特級) : Special quality, not pasteurized.
; Tokusen (特選) : Premium quality, usually implies limited quantity.
Other terms unrelated to the three official levels of quality:


== Chemical composition ==
; Hatsuakane (初茜) : Refers to industrial grade used for flavoring, powder.
The chemical composition of soy sauce is affected by the proportions of raw materials, fermentation methodologies, fermenting molds and strains, and post-fermentation treatments.<ref name="citeseerx.ist.psu.edu">{{cite journal|last1=Zhang|first1=Yanfang|last2=Tao|first2=Wenyi|title=Flavor and taste compounds analysis in Chinese solid fermented soy sauce|journal=African Journal of Biotechnology|date=18 February 2009|volume=8|issue=4|pages=673–681|citeseerx=10.1.1.891.5204}}</ref> Although the formation mechanism of chemical composition in soy sauce is complex, it has been widely accepted that free amino acids, water-soluble peptides and ] products in soy sauce are considered as essential chemical composition and to provide core sensory effects.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gao|first1=Xianli|last2=Cui|first2=Chun|last3=Ren|first3=Jiaoyan|last4=Zhao|first4=Haifeng|last5=Zhao|first5=Qiangzhong|last6=Zhao|first6=Mouming|title=Changes in the chemical composition of traditional Chinese-type soy sauce at different stages of manufacture and its relation to taste|journal=International Journal of Food Science & Technology|date=February 2011|volume=46|issue=2|pages=243–249|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2621.2010.02487.x}}</ref>
; Chōtokusen (超特選) : Used by marketers to imply the best.
The primary fermentation of ] lowers the pH of the ], and this directly results in the acidic pH range (4.4–5.4) of soy sauce products. The secondary fermentation conducted by ] provides soy sauce with a wide range of flavor and odorant compounds by breaking down macronutrients. Soy proteins and grain proteins are ] into short peptide chains and free amino acids, which adds umami to the product. Based on the result of free amino acid analysis, the most abundant amino acids in Chinese soy sauce product are ], ], ] and ].<ref name="citeseerx.ist.psu.edu"/>


] is hydrolyzed into simple sugars which contribute to the sweet flavor in soy sauce. Legume fats may also be decomposed into ], and the interactions among lipids and other macronutrients also result in a richer flavor in the final product. ] also contributes significantly to the development of the properties of soy sauce. The hydrolysis of proteins and large carbohydrates also provides free amino acids and simple sugars as reagents for the ].
Perhaps the most well-known producer of Japanese soy sauce is the ].


Soy sauce may contain more than 1% alcohol and may run afoul of liquor control legislation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beavan |first1=Katrina |title=NT liquor licensing laws affect sale of household cooking products, vendors warned |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-30/northern-territory-liquor-licensing-affecting-household-product/11365674 |access-date=30 July 2019 |work=] |date=30 July 2019}}</ref>
=== Korean soy sauce ===
] soy sauce, or ''] ganjang'' (조선간장) is a byproduct of the production of '']'' (Korean ]). ''Joseon ganjang'', thin and dark brown in color, is made entirely of soy and brine, and has a saltiness that varies according to the producer. Wide scale use of ''Joseon ganjang'' has been somewhat superseded cheaper factory-made Japanese style soy sauce, called ''waeganjang'' (hangul: 왜간장/倭간장). However, many Koreans continued to use the soy sauce native to their culture. According to the 2001 national food consumption survey in Korea, traditional fermented kanjang was only 1.4%.<ref name "FermentedFoodsKorea">{{cite web | author = Jung, Soon Teck and Kang, Seong-Gook | title = The Past and Present of Traditional Fermented Foods in Korea | url = http://www.miyajima-soy.co.jp/science/kouenkai/kouenkai.htm | date = 2002 | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref>


=== Taiwanese soy sauce === == Sensory profile ==
{{hatnote|This section uses three-letter codes for amino acids to save space. See {{section link|Proteinogenic amino acid|Structures}} for a list.}}
In ], only light soy sauce is used and this is referred to as ''jiangyou'' (醬油); the terms ''shengchou'' (生抽) and ''laochou'' (老抽) are not used. In addition to soy sauce made from soybeans and ], there is a variety that is made from ]s. Soy sauce made from black beans is generally more expensive because it takes longer to make.
The taste of soy sauce is predominated by saltiness, followed by moderate umami, sweetness, and finally slight bitterness, which is hard to perceive due to the masking effect of other tastes. The overall flavor of soy sauce is a result of the balance and interaction among different taste components. The saltiness is largely attributed to the presence of NaCl (common salt) in brine. The sugars hydrolyzed from starch add sweetness into soy sauce. Umami is largely caused by the presence of free amino acids, mainly ] and ]. Sodium from the brine and ] from the soy also add to the umami. Other amino acids cause additional basic flavors, with sweet coming from Ala, Gly, Ser, and Thr; bitter coming from Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Trp, Tyr, and Val; and no taste from Cys, Lys, and Pro.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tseng|first1=Yu-Hsiu|last2=Lee|first2=Yu-Ling|last3=Li|first3=Ruei-Chian|last4=Mau|first4=Jeng-Leun|title=Non-volatile flavour components of Ganoderma tsugae|journal=Food Chemistry|date=May 2005|volume=90|issue=3|pages=409–415|doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.03.054}}</ref> The amino-acid ] content, an indication of the free amino acid concentration, is used in China for grading soy sauce. The highest "special grade" is defined at ≥&nbsp;0.8&nbsp;g/100&nbsp;mL.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ouyang |first1=Qin |last2=Chen |first2=Quansheng |last3=Zhao |first3=Jiewen |last4=Lin |first4=Hao |title=Determination of Amino Acid Nitrogen in Soy Sauce Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Characteristic Variables Selection and Extreme Learning Machine |journal=Food and Bioprocess Technology |date=September 2013 |volume=6 |issue=9 |pages=2486–2493 |doi=10.1007/s11947-012-0936-0|s2cid=98448382 }}</ref>
The history of soy sauce making in Taiwan can be traced back to southeastern China, in the provinces of ] and ]. The cultural and political separation between Taiwan and China since the end of the ] in 1895, when China ceded Taiwan to Japan, had brought yet another unexpected evolution of soy sauce making in Taiwan. Some of the top Taiwanese makers, such as Wan Ja Shan, Wei-Wong and Ve-Chung has since adopted the more sophisticated Japanese technology in making soy sauce for the domestic market and more recently foreign markets as well.


Despite a large variety of volatile and odorant compounds that have been identified in soy sauce, the food product ''per se'' does not present a strong aroma. Alcohols, acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, heterocyclic compounds, alkynes and benzenes have been identified in Chinese soy sauces.<ref name="FengEtAl" /> An explanation for this observation is that the aroma of soy sauce does not depend largely on the aroma-active compounds. The subtle aroma is a result of a "critical balance" achieved among all volatile and odorant compounds, whose respective concentrations are relatively low.
===Vietnamese soy sauce===
Vietnamese soy sauce is called ''xì dầu'', ''nước tương'', or sometimes simply '']''.


== Variations by country ==
===Hawaiian shoyu===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2009}}
A unique type of soy sauce produced by Aloha Shoyu Company since 1946 is a special blend of soybeans, ], and ], historically common among local ] residents. Hawaii residents rarely use the term "soy sauce," opting to use the Japanese loanword "shoyu" instead.


Soy sauce is widely used as an important flavoring and has been integrated into the ] of many East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. Despite their rather similar appearance, soy sauces made in different cultures and regions are different in taste, consistency, fragrance and saltiness. Soy sauce retains its quality longer when kept away from direct sunlight.
===Filipino soy sauce===
A popular condiment in the ], it is called ''toyo'', and is usually found beside other sauces such as '']'' and '']''. The flavour of Filipino soy sauce is interestingly much more muted compared to its Asian neighbours - possibly an adaptation to the demands of the Filipino palate and its cuisine (as, aside from being a staple condiment, it plays various roles in flavouring many cooked dishes).


==Miscellaneous== === Burmese ===
Burmese soy sauce production is dated back to the ] in the 9th and 10th century. Scripts written in praise of ''pe ngan byar yay'' ({{lang|my|ပဲငံပြာရည်}}, literally "bean fish sauce") were found.{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}} Thick soy sauce is called ''kya nyo'' ({{lang|my|ကြာညို့}}, from Chinese ''jiàngyóu'').{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}
Small quantities of soy sauce may be included in take-away meals such as Korean ] and ] boxes. These portions are often attractively and creatively packaged.


== Health == === Chinese ===
Chinese soy sauces ({{zh|first=c|c={{linktext|酱|油}}||p=jiàng yóu|cy=jeungyàuh|j=zoeng3 jau4}}; or alternatively, {{lang|zh|{{linktext|豉油}} }}; {{zh|p=chǐyóu|cy=sihyàuh|j=si6jau4}}) are primarily made from ]s, with relatively low amounts of other grains. Chinese soy sauce produced by fermentation can be roughly split into two classes: brewed (direct fermented) or blended (with additives), occupying about 40% and 60% of market share respectively.<ref name=ZH-D>{{cite web |last1=Wanwan |title=中国、日本和韩国的酱油有什么异同? |url=https://daily.zhihu.com/story/7393822 |website=] Daily (curated section) |access-date=25 August 2022 |trans-title=What are the commonalities and differences among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean soy sauces?}}</ref> Sauces can also be classed by fermentation technology (shown above) into Low-Salt Solid-State fermented soy sauce (LSF; {{lang|zh|低盐固态}}) and High-Salt Liquid-State fermented soy sauce (HLF; {{lang|zh|高盐稀态}}), occupying about 90% and 10% of market share respectively.<ref name=ZH-D/>
===Positive===
]
A study by ] shows that Chinese dark soy sauce contains 10 times the ]s of ], and can help prevent ]s.<ref name = "Antioxidants">{{cite web | author = Daniells, Stephen | title = Antioxidant-rich soy sauce could protect against CVD | url = http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=68196-soy-sauce-cvd-isoflavones | publisher = nutraingredients.com | date = ] | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref> Soy sauce is rich in ]s of ] and of excellent anti-allergic potential. <ref name = "labi">{{cite journal | last = Tanasupawat, et al | first = Somboon | title = Lactic acid bacteria isolated from soy sauce mash in Thailand | journal = Journal of General and Applied Microbiology | volume = 48 | issue = 4 | pages = 201&ndash;209| publisher = The Microbiology Research Foundation | date = ] | url = http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jgam/48/4/201/_pdf | doi = 10.2323 | accessdate = 2007-11-06}}</ref><ref name = "ifss">{{cite journal| last = Kobayashi| first = Makio | title = Immunological Functions of Soy Sauce: Hypoallergenicity and Antiallergic Activity of Soy Sauce | journal = Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering | volume = 1 | issue = 2| pages = 144&ndash;151 | publisher = Society for Biotechnology, Japan | date = ] | url = http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jbb/100/2/144/_pdf | doi = 10.1263 | accessdate = 2007-11-06}}</ref>


===Negative=== ==== Brewed ====
]
Soy sauce does not contain the beneficial ] associated with other soy products such as ] or ].{{Fact|date=September 2007}} It can also be very ]y, so it may not be a suitable ] for people on a low sodium diet. Low-sodium soy sauces are produced, but it is impossible to make soy sauce without using some quantity of salt.


Soy sauce can be brewed directly from a fermentation process using wheat, soybeans, salt, and water without additional additives.
In 2001 the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency found in tests of various low-grade soy sauces (those made from hydrolyzed soy protein, rather than being naturally fermented) that some 22% of samples contained a chemical called 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) at levels considerably higher than those deemed safe by the ]. About two-thirds of these samples also contained a second chemical called 1,3-DCP (1,3-dichloropropane-2-ol) which experts advise should not be present at any levels in food. Both chemicals have the potential to cause ] and the Agency recommended that the affected products be withdrawn from shelves and avoided.<ref name = "SoySauceRecall"/>


* Light or fresh ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|生|抽}}}}; {{zh|p=shēng chōu|cy=sāangchāu|j=saang1 cau1}} or {{lang|zh|{{linktext|醬|清}}}}; {{zh|p=jiàng qīng|cy=jeungchīng|j=zoeng3 cing1}}): is a thin (low viscosity), opaque, lighter brown soy sauce, brewed by first culturing steamed wheat and soybeans with ''Aspergillus'', and then letting the mixture ferment in brine. It is the main soy sauce used for seasoning, since it is saltier, has less noticeable color, and also adds a distinct flavor.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kamal|first1=Ghulam Mustafa|last2=Wang|first2=Xiaohua|last3=Bin Yuan|last4=Wang|first4=Jie|last5=Sun|first5=Peng|last6=Zhang|first6=Xu|last7=Liu|first7=Maili|title=Compositional differences among Chinese soy sauce types studied by 13C NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis|journal=Talanta|date=September 2016|volume=158|pages=89–99|doi=10.1016/j.talanta.2016.05.033|pmid=27343582}}</ref>
===Soy Sauce and Allergies===
** ''Tóu chōu'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|頭|抽}}}}): A light soy sauce made from the first pressing of the soybeans, this can be loosely translated as "first soy sauce" or referred to as premium light soy sauce. ''Tóu chōu'' is sold at a premium because, like extra virgin olive oil, the flavor of the first pressing is considered superior. Due to its delicate flavor it is used primarily for seasoning light dishes and for dipping.
{{see|Soy allergy}}
** ''Shuāng huáng'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|雙|璜}}}}): A light soy sauce that is double-fermented by using the light soy sauce from another batch to take the place of brine for a second brewing. This adds further complexity to the flavor of the light soy sauce. Due to its complex flavor this soy sauce is used primarily for dipping.
* Yìn yóu ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|蔭|油}}}}): A darker soy sauce brewed primarily in Taiwan by culturing only steamed soybeans with ''Aspergillus'' and mixing the cultured soybeans with coarse rock salt before undergoing prolonged dry fermentation. The flavor of this soy sauce is complex and rich and is used for dipping or in ]. For the former use, yìn yóu can be thickened with starch to make a thick soy sauce.<ref>{{cite web |title=咱へ故鄉 丸莊醬油 |last=jzqu20519 |website=] |date=4 February 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-jhtA5AVls |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/D-jhtA5AVls| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


==== Blended ====
Most varieties of soy sauce also contain ]. Individuals with a ], ], or a ] should avoid this condiment and dishes seasoned with soy sauce<sup></sup>.
Additives with sweet or umami tastes are sometimes added to a finished brewed soy sauce to modify its taste and texture.


* ] ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|老|抽}}}}; {{zh|p=lǎo chōu|cy=lóuhchāu|j=lou5 cau1}}), a darker and slightly thicker soy sauce made from light soy sauce. This soy sauce is made through prolonged aging and may contain added ] and/or ] to give it its distinctive appearance. It has a richer, slightly sweeter, and less salty flavor than light soy sauce. This variety is mainly used during cooking, since its flavor develops during heating. Dark soy sauce is mainly used to add color and flavor to a dish after cooking. One of the strongest varieties is known as "double black" (双老头抽)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewoksoflife.com/double-black-soy-sauce/|title=Double Black Soy Sauce - Chinese Ingredients|date=30 August 2019}}</ref>
==References==
** ''Mushroom dark soy'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|草|菇|老|抽}}}} ''cǎogū lǎochōu''): In the finishing and aging process of making dark soy sauce, the broth of '']'' (straw mushroom) is mixed into the soy sauce and is then exposed to the sun to make this type of dark soy. The added broth gives this soy sauce a richer flavor than plain dark soy sauce.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anusasananan|first=Linda Lau|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DP1fbX0SZncC&dq=mushroom+dark+soy+rich&pg=PA254|title=The Hakka Cookbook: Chinese Soul Food from around the World|date=2012-10-08|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-95344-4|language=en}}</ref>
{{reflist}}
** ''Thick soy sauce'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|醬|油|膏}}}} ''jiàng yóu gāo''), is a dark soy sauce that has been thickened with heat and sugar, occasionally a starch thickener and ] are used. This sauce is often used as a ] or finishing sauce and poured on food as a flavorful addition. However, due to its sweetness and caramelized flavors from its production process the sauce is also used in ].
* Shrimp soy sauce ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|蝦|子|醬|油}}}} ''Xiā zǐ jiàngyóu''): Fresh soy sauce is simmered with fresh shrimp and finished with sugar, ] (type of distilled liquor, 白酒), and spices. A specialty of ].

Besides the above traditional types, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and other flavor enhancers may be mixed with brewed soy sauce to produce cheaper substitutes. This type is known as "blended soy sauce" ({{Zh|c=配制酱油}})<ref name=ZH-D/> in China until 2019, when a chinese 2018 standard that removed this type from the definition of soy sauce went into effect.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=http://www.fzmq.gov.cn/xjwz/zwgk/zfxxgkzdgz/spypaq/spaqbz/202110/t20211009_4202552.htm |title=GB 2717-2018 食品安全国家标准 酱油 |date=June 21, 2018 |publisher=State Administration for Market Regulation |year=2018 |language=zh |trans-title=GB 2717-2018 National Food Safety Standard - Soy Sauce}}</ref>

The 2018 chinese standard defines soy sauce as "liquid condiments with special color, aroma and taste made from soybeans and/or defatted soybeans, wheat and/or wheat flour and/or wheat bran as main raw materials through microbial fermentation."<ref name=":0" /> It still allows food additives to be used "following the definitions of GB 2760", which does not restrict the use of MSG and ]. (Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is not listed as a food additive in GB 2760 and is therefore unacceptable in products labelled as "soy sauce".)<ref>{{cite book |title=GB 2760-2014: 食品安全国家标准 食品添加剂使用标准 |publisher=国家卫生和计划生育委员会 |url=https://www.cirs-reach.com/Uploads/file/20180428/1524879613_22618.pdf |trans-title=GB 2760-2014 Food safety national standard&mdash;Standard on the use of food additives|language=zh}}</ref>

=== Filipino ===
]'' spiced with '']'']]

In the Philippines, soy sauce is called toyò in the ], derived from ''tau-yu'' in ]. Philippine soy sauce is usually a combination of soybeans, wheat, salt, and caramel color. It is thinner in texture and has a saltier taste than its Southeast Asian counterparts. It is most similar to the Japanese ''koikuchi shōyu'' in terms of consistency and the use of wheat, though toyò is a bit saltier and darker in color.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liwanag |first1=M.A. |title=Filipino Soy Sauce |url=https://pinoybites.com/common-ingredients/filipino-soy-sauce-toyo/ |website=Pinoy Bites |date=7 June 2020 |access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Soy Sauce |url=http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/bp_soysz.html |website=Clove Garden |access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

Toyò is used as a marinade, an ingredient in cooked dishes, and most often as a table condiment, usually alongside other sauces such as ] (''patís'') and ] (''sukà''). It is often mixed and served with the juice of the ] (] ''Citrofortunella microcarpa''; also called calamondin, ''limonsito''). The combination is known as ''toyomansî'', which can be comparable to the Japanese '']'' sauce (soy sauce with ]). ''Toyò'' is also a main ingredient in ], one of the more famous dishes of Filipino cuisine.

=== Hawaiian ===
Soy sauce is a ubiquitous condiment and ingredient in many dishes in ], where it is commonly known by its Japanese name {{lang|ja-Latn|shōyu}} by locals. ''Aloha Shoyu'' is a soy sauce manufacturer in Hawaii that produces a popular soy sauce whose flavor is more delicate and somewhat sweeter compared to other more well-known soy sauces.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://alohashoyu.com/about/ |publisher=Aloha Shoyu Company |access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

=== Indonesian ===
{{main|Sweet soy sauce}}
] ''Kecap manis'' sweet Indonesian soy sauce is nearly as thick as ]; right, ''Kecap asin'']]

In ], soy sauce is known as ''kecap'' (old spelling: ''ketjap''), which is a catch-all term for fermented ], and ] to the English word "]".<ref>See discussion and references at Wiktionary: '']''.</ref> The most popular type of soy sauce in Indonesian cuisine is ''kecap manis'' or ]. The term ''kecap'' is also used to describe other condiments and sauces of a similar appearance, such as ''kecap ikan'' (]) and ''kecap Inggris'' (]; lit. "English sauce" or "England sauce"). Three common varieties of soy-based ''kecap'' exist in ], used either as ingredients or ]s:

* ''Kecap manis'': Sweetened soy sauce, which has a thick syrupy consistency and a unique, pronounced, sweet, somewhat ]-like flavor due to generous addition of ]. Regular soy with brown sugar and a trace of molasses added can substitute. It is by far the most popular type of soy sauce employed in ], accounts for an estimated 90 percent of the nation's total soy sauce production.<ref name="Soyinfo">{{cite book | title = History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in Southeast Asia (13th Century To 2010): Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook | author1= William Shurtleff| author2= Akiko Aoyagi | publisher = Soyinfo Center |date=2010 |isbn = 9781928914303 |url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_wUWmc4Tr-WUC | page = | access-date = 15 February 2016}}</ref> ''Kecap manis'' is an important sauce in Indonesian signature dishes, such as '']'', '']'', ], '']'' and '']''. ''Sambal kecap'' for example is type of '']'' dipping sauce of kecap manis with sliced chili, tomato and shallot, a popular dipping sauce for ''sate kambing'' (goat meat satay) and ''ikan bakar'' (grilled fish/seafood). Since soy sauce is of Chinese origin, ''kecap asin'' is also an important seasoning in ].
* ''Kecap manis sedang'': Medium sweet soy sauce, which has a less thick consistency, is less sweet and has a saltier taste than ''kecap manis''.
* ''Kecap asin'': Regular soy sauce derived from the Japanese ''shoyu'', but usually more concentrated and thicker, with a darker color and stronger flavor; it can be replaced by Chinese light soy sauce in some recipes. Salty soy sauce was first introduced into Indonesia by ] so its taste resembles that of Chinese soy sauce. ] soy sauce made from black beans is very salty and large productions are mainly made in ].

=== Japanese ===<!-- This section is linked from ]. -->
]

{{lang|ja-Latn|Shōyu}} is officially divided into five main types by the JAS (])<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=((Japanese Agricultural Standard)) |author-link=Japanese Agricultural Standard |date=December 3, 2015 |title=しょうゆの日本農林規格 |trans-title=JAS Standard for Soy Sauce |url=https://www.maff.go.jp/j/jas/jas_kikaku/pdf/kikaku_syoyu_151203.pdf |access-date=May 31, 2024 |website=maff.go.jp |language=ja |edition=2015}}</ref> depending on differences in their ingredients and method of production. These types are {{lang|ja-Latn|koikuchi}}, {{lang|ja-Latn|usukuchi}}, {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}}, {{lang|ja-Latn|saishikomi}}, and {{lang|ja-Latn|shiro}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soysauce.or.jp/en/types-and-how-to-use-them|title=Types and how to use them|website=Soy Sauce Information Center|access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref>

Most, but not all, Japanese soy sauces include wheat as a primary ingredient, which tends to give them a slightly sweeter taste than their Chinese counterparts.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} They also tend towards an alcoholic ]-like flavor, sometimes enhanced by the addition of small amounts of alcohol as a natural ].{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} The widely varying flavors of these soy sauces are not always interchangeable, so some recipes only call for one type or the other, much as a white wine cannot replace a red's flavor or beef stock does not make the same results as ].

Some soy sauces made in the Japanese way or styled after them contain about 50% wheat.

==== Varieties ====
* {{nihongo|''Koikuchi''|濃口||'thick taste'}}: Originating in the ], its usage eventually spread all over Japan. Over 80% of the Japanese domestic soy sauce production is of {{lang|ja-Latn|koikuchi}}, and can be considered the typical Japanese soy sauce. It is made from roughly equal quantities of soybean and wheat.<ref name=":25"/><ref name=":13"/> This variety is also called {{nihongo|''kijōyu''|生醤油}} or {{nihongo|namashōyu|生しょうゆ}} when it is not ].
* {{nihongo|''Usukuchi''|薄口||'thin taste'}}: Almost 14% of soy sauce production is {{lang|ja-Latn|usukuchi shoyu}}.<ref name=":25" /> It is particularly popular in the ] region of Japan. It matures for less time than {{lang|ja-Latn|koichuchi}}<ref name=":13" /> and is both saltier and lighter in color. It is paler due to the use in its production of {{lang|ja-Latn|]}}, a sweet liquid made from fermented rice. {{lang|ja-Latn|Usukuchi}} is commonly used in cooking as it does not alter the color and taste of the ingredients.<ref name=":25" />
* {{nihongo|''Tamari''|たまり}}: Made mainly in the ] of Japan, {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}} is darker in appearance and richer in flavor than {{lang|ja-Latn|koikuchi}}. It contains little or no wheat. Wheat-free {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}} can be used by people with ]. Tamari is more viscous than {{lang|ja-Latn|koikuchi shoyu}}.<ref name=":25" /> Of soy sauce produced in Japan, 1.5% is {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}}.<ref name=":25" /> It is the "original" Japanese soy sauce, as its recipe is closest to the soy sauce originally introduced to Japan from China. Technically, this variety is known as {{nihongo|''miso-damari''|味噌溜り}}, as this is the liquid that runs off ] (a soybean-based seasoning and soup base) as it ]. The Japanese word {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}} is derived from the verb {{nihongo|''tamaru''|溜る||'to accumulate'}}, referring to the fact that {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}} was traditionally a liquid byproduct made during the fermentation of miso. Japan remains the leading producer of {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}},{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} though it has also become popular in the United States. {{lang|ja-Latn|Tamari shoyu}} is often used for sashimi.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":25" /> Oftentimes, other varieties of soy sauce for sashimi are inaccurately referred to as tamari shoyu.<ref name=":13" /> The back label in Japan, by law, will clarify whether or not it is actually tamari.<ref name=":13" />
* {{nihongo|''Shiro''|白||'white'}}: In contrast to {{lang|ja-Latn|tamari}} soy sauce, {{lang|ja-Latn|shiro}} uses mostly wheat and very little soybean, lending it a light appearance and sweet taste. It is more commonly used in the Kansai region to highlight the appearances of food, for example ]. {{lang|ja-Latn|Shiro shoyu}} used to be used a lot in high-class cookery and is generally not available abroad.<ref name=":13" /> Its main use is for pickles.<ref name=":25" /> Of soy sauce production in Japan, 0.7% is {{lang|ja-Latn|shiro}}.<ref name=":25" />
* {{nihongo|''Saishikomi''|再仕込||'twice-brewed'}}: This variety substitutes previously made ''koikuchi'' for the brine normally used in the process. Consequently, it is much darker and more strongly flavored. This type is also known as {{nihongo|''kanro shōyu''|甘露醤油||'sweet soy sauce'}}. Of soy sauce production in Japan, 0.8% is {{lang|ja-Latn|saishikomi}}.<ref name=":25" />
* {{lang|ja-Latn|Kanro shoyu}} is a variety of soy sauce made exclusively in ], a city in ].<ref name=":13" /> It is handmade and is less salty and less sweet than {{lang|ja-Latn|saishikomi shoyu}}.<ref name=":13" />
* ''Amakuchi'' (甘口, 'sweet taste'): It is similar to ''koikuchi'' soy sauce, but with sweetener added. It is the most popular type of soy sauce in ] of Japan, which is famous for sweet foods. In some cases, it is more common to find ''amakuchi shoyu'' than ''koikuchi shoyu'' in Kyushu.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=What is Shoyu? Definitive Guide to Japanese Soy Sauce |url=https://thechefdojo.com/what-is-shoyu/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=The Chef Dojo |date= 19 July 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>

Newer varieties of Japanese soy sauce include:<ref name="Steinkraus">{{cite book |title=Industrialization of indigenous fermented foods |editor-first=Keith H. |editor-last=Steinkraus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfjPq9dfTuMC&q=genen%20usujio&pg=PA22 |page=22|date=2004|isbn=978-0-8247-4784-8|publisher=Marcel Dekker |edition= Second}}</ref>

* {{nihongo|''Gen'en''|{{linktext|減|塩}}||'reduced salt'}}: This version contains 50% less salt than regular soy sauce for consumers concerned about heart disease.
* {{nihongo|''Usujio''|{{linktext|薄|塩}}||'light salt'}}: This version contains 20% less salt than regular soy sauce.

All of these varieties are sold in three different grades according to how they were made:<ref name=":1" />

* {{nihongo|''Honjōzō''|本醸造||'genuine fermented'}}: Contains 100% genuine fermented product
* {{nihongo|''Kongō-jōzō''|混合醸造||'mixed fermented'}}: Contains genuine fermented {{lang|ja-Latn|shōyu}} mash mixed with 30–50% of chemical or ] hydrolysate of plant protein
* {{nihongo|''Kongō''|混合||'mixed'}}: Contains {{lang|ja-Latn|honjōzō}} or {{lang|ja-Latn|Kongō-jōzō shōyu}} mixed with 30–50% of chemical or enzymatic hydrolysate of plant protein

All the varieties and grades may be sold according to three official levels of quality:<ref>{{cite book|title=Microbiology of fermented foods |editor-first=Brian J. B. |editor-last=Wood |page=364 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mKfpPwm5ceEC&pg=PA364
|volume=1 |edition= Second |publisher=Blackie Academic & Professional |isbn=978-0-7514-0216-2 |date=1998}}</ref>

* {{nihongo|''Hyōjun''|標準}}: standard grade, contains more than 1.2% total nitrogen
* {{nihongo|''Jōkyū''|上級 }}: upper grade, contains more than 1.35% of total nitrogen
* {{nihongo|''Tokkyū ''|特級}}: special grade, contains more than 1.5% of total nitrogen

=== Korean ===
In South Korea, soy sauces or ''ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|간장}}, "seasoning sauce") can be roughly split into two categories: ''hansik ganjang'' ('Korean-style soy sauce') and {{lang|ko-Latn|gaeryang ganjang}} ('modernized soy sauce').<ref name=":foodcode1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfds.go.kr/eng/eng/index.do?nMenuCode=120&page=2&mode=view&boardSeq=69982|title=Food_Code(No.2015-4_20150203)|date=3 February 2015|website=www.mfds.go.kr|publisher=MFDS – Ministry of Food And Drug Safety|access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=":foodcode2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr/popup/safefoodlife/food/foodRvlv/foodRvlvDetail.do?rvlv_no=54|script-title=ko:식품공전 (제 5. 식품별 기준 및 규격 / 20. 장류)|date=30 September 2016|website=www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr|publisher=식품의약품안전처 식품안전정보포털|language=ko|trans-title=Food Code (Article 5. Standards and Specifications for Each Food Product / 20. Soy Sauces or Pastes)|access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref> The term {{lang|ko-Latn|ganjang}} can also refer to non-soy-based salty condiments, such as {{lang|ko-Latn|eo-ganjang}} ]''.
]

==== ''Hansik ganjang'' ====
{{Main|soup soy sauce}}

{{lang|ko-Latn|]}} ({{lang|ko|한식간장}}, 'Korean-style soy sauce') is made entirely of fermented soybean (]) and ]. It is a byproduct of '']'' (fermented soybean paste) production, and has a unique fermented soybean flavour. Both lighter in colour and saltier than other Korean ganjang varieties, ''hansik ganjang'' is used mainly in ] (soup) and ] (seasoned vegetable dish) in modern ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://food.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/01/2014040103539.html|script-title=ko:양조간장·진간장·국간장 무슨 차이지? 간장의 종류별 활용법|last=정|first=재균|date=4 April 2014|newspaper=]|language=ko|trans-title=Yangjo-ganjang, jin-ganjang, and guk-ganjang: What's the difference? Uses of different types of ganjang.|access-date=9 November 2016|archive-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110105832/http://food.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/01/2014040103539.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Common names for '']'' include ''jaeraesik ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|재래식 간장}}, "traditional soy sauce"), '']-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|조선간장}}, "] soy sauce"), and ''guk-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|국간장}}, "soup soy sauce"). The homebrewed variety is also called ''jip-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|집간장}}, "home soy sauce").

Depending on the length of aging, ''hansik ganjang'' can be divided into three main varieties: clear, middle, and dark.
* ''Haet-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|햇간장}}, "new soy sauce") – soy sauce aged for a year. Also called ''cheongjang'' ({{lang|ko|청장}}, "clear soy sauce").
* ''Jung-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|중간장}}, "middle soy sauce") – soy sauce aged for three to four years.
* ''Jin-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|진간장}}, "dark soy sauce") – soy sauce aged for more than five years. Also called ''jinjang'' ({{lang|ko|진장}}, "aged soy sauce"), ''nongjang'' ({{lang|ko|농장}}, "thick soy sauce"), or ''jingamjang'' ({{lang|ko|진감장}}, "aged mature soy sauce").
]'s Food Code classifies ''hansik-ganjang'' into two categories by their ingredients.<ref name=":foodcode1" /><ref name=":foodcode2" />
* ''Jaerae-hansik-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|재래한식간장}}, "traditional Korean-style soy sauce") – made with traditional style ] and brine.
* ''Gaeryang-hansik-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|개량한식간장}}, "modernized Korean-style soy sauce") – made with nontraditional ] (which can be made of regular ], ], ], ], or soybean meal, and ripened using traditional method or ''Aspergillus'') and brine.

==== ''Gaeryang ganjang'' ====
''Gaeryang-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|개량간장}}, "modernized soy sauce"), referring to varieties of soy sauces not made of ], is now the most widely used type of soy sauce in modern ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miyajima-soy.co.jp/science/kouenkai/kouenkai.htm|title=The Past and Present of Traditional Fermented Foods in Korea |date=2002 |last1=Jung |first1=Soon Teck |last2=Kang |first2=Seong-Gook |access-date=7 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223042530/http://www.miyajima-soy.co.jp/science/kouenkai/kouenkai.htm|archive-date=23 December 2007}}</ref> The word ''ganjang'' without modifiers in ] (stir-fry), ] (braised or simmered dishes), and ] (steamed dishes) recipes usually mean ''gaeryang-ganjang''. Another common name of ''gaeryang-ganjang'' is ''jin-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|진간장}}, "dark soy sauce"), because ''gaeryang-ganjang'' varieties are usually darker in appearance compared to traditional ''hansik ganjang''. Having been introduced to Korea during the ], ''garyang ganjang'' is also called ''Wae-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|왜간장}}, "] soy sauce").

]'s Food Code classifies ''gaeryang-ganjang'' into four categories by their method of production.<ref name=":foodcode1" /><ref name=":foodcode2" />
* Brewed soy sauce ({{lang|ko|양조간장}}, ''yangjo-ganjang'') – made by fermenting soybean, soybean meal, or other grains with saline solution.
* Acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce ({{lang|ko|산분해간장}}) – made by hydrolyzing raw materials containing protein with acid.
* Enzyme-hydrolyzed soy sauce ({{lang|ko|효소분해간장}}) – made by hydrolyzing raw materials containing protein with enzyme.
* Blended soy sauce ({{lang|ko|혼합간장}}) – Also called mixed soy sauce, blended soy sauce can be made by blending ''hansik-ganjang'' (Korean-style soy sauce) or ''yangjo-ganjang'' (brewed soy sauce) with acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce or enzyme-hydrolyzed soy sauce.

==== Other ====
* ''Eo-ganjang'' ({{lang|ko|어간장}}, "]"): Made mainly in ], ''eo-ganjang'' is a soy sauce substitute made of '']'' (fermented fish).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jejusori.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=85842|script-title=ko:제주에는 생선으로 만든 '천연간장(?)'이 있다|last=김|first=봉현|date=9 August 2010|newspaper=제주의 소리|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/specialsection/esc_section/555154.html|script-title=ko:한국식 피시소스 제주어간장 아시나요|last=박|first=미향|date=10 October 2012|newspaper=] |access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref>

=== Malaysian and Singaporean ===
Malays from Malaysia, using the Malay dialect similar to Indonesian, use the word ''kicap'' for soy sauce. ''Kicap'' is traditionally of two types: ''kicap lemak'' (lit "fat/rich soy sauce") and ''kicap cair''. ''Kicap lemak'' is similar to Indonesian ''kecap manis'' but with very much less sugar, while ''kicap cair'' is the Malaysian equivalent of ''kecap asin''.

=== Peru ===
Soy sauce, known in ] as ''sillao'' from the ] name of the item, is an important ingredient in ].

=== Sri Lankan ===
Soy sauce ({{langx|si|සෝයා සෝස්}}) is a popular food product used in Sri Lanka and is a major ingredient used in the nationally popular street food dish ].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017015-chicken-kottu-roti |title = Chicken Kottu Roti Recipe}}</ref> Soy sauce has largely been produced by the ] community but its production has also spread to other communities in Sri Lanka. Soy sauce production in Sri Lanka is the same as the production of soy sauce in Indonesia. Fermentation occurs over a period of three months. The soy beans which are steeped in brine are then pressed to obtain a liquid sauce.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bTHfAwAAQBAJ | title=History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in China and Taiwan, and in Chinese Cookbooks, Restaurants, and Chinese Work with Soyfoods Outside China (1024 BCE to 2014): Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook, Including Manchuria, Hong Kong and Tibet| isbn=9781928914686| last1=Shurtleff| first1=William| last2=Huang| first2=H.T| last3=Aoyagi| first3=Akiko| date=22 June 2014| publisher=Soyinfo Center}}</ref>

=== Taiwanese ===
The history of soy sauce making in Taiwan can be traced back to southeastern China, in the provinces of ] and ]. Taiwanese soy sauce is known for its ] variant, known as black bean soy sauce (黑豆蔭油), which producers claim to have stronger flavor and more nutrition. Most soy sauce makers in Taiwan make soy sauce from soybeans and wheat using machines, which is a technique introduced during Japanese rule. A smaller number of producers continue to handmake soy sauce in the traditional way.'''<ref>{{cite news |last=Chung |first=Oscar |date=1 January 2010 |title=A Sauce for All |work=Taiwan Review |publisher=Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan) |url=http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xitem=83076&ctnode=1337 |url-status=dead |access-date=14 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311060546/http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xitem=83076&ctnode=1337 |archive-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>'''

=== Thai ===
] usually topped with Thai sweet soy sauce served at ], ], ]]]
In Thailand, soy sauce is called ''sii-íu'' ({{langx|th|ซีอิ๊ว}}). ''Sii-íu kǎao'' ({{langx|th|ซีอิ๊วขาว}}, 'white soy sauce') is used as regular soy sauce in ], while ''sii-íu dam'' ({{langx|th|ซีอิ๊วดำ}}, 'black soy sauce') is used primarily for colour. Another darker-coloured variety, ''sii-íu wǎan'' ({{langx|th|ซีอิ๊วหวาน}}, 'sweet soy sauce') is used for dipping sauces. ''Sɔ́ɔt prung rót'' ({{langx|th|ซอสปรุงรส}}, 'seasoning sauce') is also commonly used in modern ].

=== Vietnamese ===
]
In Vietnam, Chinese-style soy sauce is called ''xì dầu'' (derived from the Cantonese name 豉油) or ''nước tương''. The term "soy sauce" could also imply other condiments and soy bean paste with thick consistency known as '']''. Both are used mostly as a seasoning or dipping sauce for a number of dishes. Vietnamese cuisine itself favors ] in cooking, but ''nước tương'' has a clear presence in ] and Buddhist cuisine.

== Nutrition ==
A study by the ] showed that Chinese ] contains 10 times the ]s of ].<ref name="Antioxidants">{{cite web |author= Daniells, Stephen |title= Antioxidant-rich soy sauce could protect against CVD |url= http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=68196-soy-sauce-cvd-isoflavones |publisher= nutraingredients.com |date= 6 June 2006 |access-date= 7 January 2008 |archive-date= 14 December 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071214131548/http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=68196-soy-sauce-cvd-isoflavones |url-status= dead }}</ref> Unpasteurized soy sauce is rich in ] and of excellent anti-allergic potential.<ref name="labi">{{cite journal |last1= Tanasupawat |first1= Somboon |title= Lactic acid bacteria isolated from soy sauce mash in Thailand |journal= Journal of General and Applied Microbiology |volume= 48 |issue= 4 |pages= 201–209 |date= 18 June 2002 |doi= 10.2323/jgam.48.201 |pmid= 12469319 |last2= Thongsanit |first2= J |last3= Okada |first3= S |last4= Komagata |first4= K |display-authors= 1 |doi-access= free }}</ref><ref name="ifss">{{cite journal |last= Kobayashi |first= Makio |title= Immunological Functions of Soy Sauce: Hypoallergenicity and Antiallergic Activity of Soy Sauce |journal= Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering |volume= 100|issue= 2 |pages= 144–151 |date= 18 April 2005 |doi= 10.1263/jbb.100.144 | pmid = 16198255 }}</ref>

Soy sauce does not contain the level of ]s associated with other soy products, such as ] or ].<ref>{{cite book |first1= Fereidoon |last1= Shahidi |author-link= Fereidoon Shahidi |first2= Marian |last2= Naczk |author2-link= Marian Naczk |title= Phenolics in food and nutraceuticals, Edition 2 |publisher= CRC Press |date=2003 |location= Florence, Kentucky |page= 103 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vHOJKw4umikC |isbn= 978-1-58716-138-4 }}</ref> It can also be very ], having a salt content between 14 and 18%. Low-sodium soy sauces are made, but it is difficult to make soy sauce without using some quantity of salt as an antimicrobial agent.<ref>{{cite book|title=Microbiology and technology of fermented foods|first=Robert Wayne|last=Hutkins|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nc77BH65_EcC&pg=PT441|publisher=Blackwell publishing |date=2006 |isbn=978-0-8138-0018-9 }}</ref>

A serving of {{convert|100|ml}} of soy sauce contains, according to the USDA:
* Energy : 60 kcal
* Fat: 0.1&nbsp;g
* Carbohydrates: 5.57&nbsp;g
* Fibers: 0.8&nbsp;g
* Protein: 10.51&nbsp;g
* Sodium: 6 g
{{clear}} <!-- To ensure no images appear to illustrate the Carcinogens section. -->

=== Carcinogens ===
Soy sauce may contain ], a ] ].<ref>{{cite journal |author= Matsudo T, T Aoki, K Abe, N Fukuta, T Higuchi, M Sasaki & K Uchida |journal= J Agric Food Chem |volume= 41 |issue= 3 |pages= 352–356 |date=1993 |doi= 10.1021/jf00027a003 |title= Determination of ethyl carbamate in soy sauce and its possible precursor|bibcode= 1993JAFC...41..352M }}</ref>

In 2001, the United Kingdom ] found in testing various soy sauces manufactured in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand (made from hydrolyzed soy protein, rather than being naturally fermented) that 22% of tested samples contained a chemical carcinogen named ] (3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) at levels considerably higher than those deemed safe by the EU. About two-thirds of these samples also contained a second carcinogenic chemical named ] (1,3-dichloropropane-2-ol) which experts advise should not be present at any levels in food. Both chemicals have the potential to cause cancer, and the Agency recommended that the affected products be withdrawn from shelves and avoided.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.food.gov.uk/science/surveillance/fsis2001/3-mcpdsoy |title=Survey of 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-Diol (3-MCPD) in Soy Sauce and Related Products (Number 14/01) |publisher=Food Standards Agency |date=18 June 2001 |access-date=16 July 2010 |archive-date=15 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515154422/http://food.gov.uk/science/surveillance/fsis2001/3-mcpdsoy |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bar.gov.ph/chronicle-home/archives-list/393-may-2004-issue/2970-is-your-soy-sauce-safe |title=Is your soy sauce safe? |author=Junelyn S. de la Rosa |publisher=Bar.gov.ph |date=May 2004 |access-date=1 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115192331/http://www.bar.gov.ph/chronicle-home/archives-list/393-may-2004-issue/2970-is-your-soy-sauce-safe |archive-date=15 January 2015 }}</ref><ref name="SoySauceRecall">{{cite press release | author = Food Standards Agency | title = Some Soy Sauce Products to Be Removed | url = http://www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/2001/jun/soysaucerecall | publisher = Food Standards Agency | date = 20 June 2001 | access-date = 7 January 2008 | archive-date = 10 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101210132240/http://www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/2001/jun/soysaucerecall | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>UK ]: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609110044/http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/soyadviceleaflet.pdf |date=9 June 2012 }}</ref> The same carcinogens were found in soy sauces manufactured in Vietnam, causing a ].<ref>{{cite web|author=VIETNAMNET, Ha Noi, Viet nam |url=http://english.vietnamnet.vn/reports/2007/05/699774/ |title=Soya sauce stirs worry and discontentment among public |publisher=English.vietnamnet.vn |access-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515090016/http://english.vietnamnet.vn/reports/2007/05/699774/ |archive-date=15 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=(AFP) |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iiMrrBvLTLGX3P0uXmSqeT1Zjayw |title=Toxic soy sauce, chemical veggies&nbsp;— food scares hit Vietnam |date=11 September 2007 |access-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119040101/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iiMrrBvLTLGX3P0uXmSqeT1Zjayw |archive-date=19 January 2010 }}</ref>

In Canada, the ] writes,

{{blockquote|] has concluded that there is no health risk to Canadians from use of available soy and oyster sauces. Because continuous lifetime exposure to high levels of ] could pose a health risk, Health Canada has established 1.0 part per million (ppm) as a guideline for importers of these sauces, in order to reduce Canadians' long-term exposure to this chemical. This is considered to be a very safe level.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oyster and soy sauce|url=http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/be-aware/cancer-myths-and-controversies/oyster-and-soy-sauce|publisher=Canadian Cancer Society|access-date=25 December 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}

=== Allergies ===
{{Further|Soy allergy}}

Soy sauce allergy not caused by soy or wheat allergy is rare.<ref name=":02"/> Most varieties of soy sauce contain wheat, to which some people have a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=20|title=Celiac Disease Foundation|author=Celiac Disease Foundation}}</ref> However, protein hydrolysis (fermentation or industrial) breaks down ], so some soy sauces may end up tolerable to gluten-intolerant individuals with no detectable gluten left.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soya.be/gluten-free-soy-sauce.php |title=Does soy sauce contain gluten? |publisher=Soya.be |access-date=16 July 2010}}</ref> Japanese tamari soy sauce is traditionally wheat-free, and some tamari available commercially today is wheat- and gluten-free.

Acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein is non-allergenic due to the completeness of protein breakdown.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Reuter|display-authors=etal| title = Evaluation of the allergenic potential of soy and wheat based seasonings | journal = Allergy| volume = 65 | issue = supplement 92, abstract 842}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{Portal bar|Food|Asia}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book | last1 = Huang | first1 = T. C. | last2 = Teng | first2 = D. F. | doi = 10.1201/9780203913550.ch29 | chapter = Soy Sauce | title = Handbook of Food and Beverage Fermentation Technology |date=2004 | doi-broken-date = 12 November 2024 | isbn = 978-0-8247-4780-0 }}—on the production of soy sauce


== External links == == External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{commonscat|Soy sauce}}
*
*
*
* Information from large manufacturers on production methods:
** - Pictorial description of the brewing process at San-Jirushi site, a large producer.
**
* (video in ])


{{Soy}} {{Soy}}
{{Condiments}}
{{Japanese food and drink}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 00:28, 24 December 2024

East Asian liquid condiment

Soy sauce
A bowl of soy sauce
Alternative namesSoya sauce, jiàngyóu, shoyu
TypeCondiment
Place of originChina
Region or stateEast Asia and Southeast Asia
Main ingredientsSoybeans

Soy sauce (sometimes called soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds. It is recognized for its saltiness and pronounced umami taste.

Soy sauce was created in its current form about 2,200 years ago during the Western Han dynasty of ancient China. Since then, it has become an important ingredient in East and Southeast Asian cooking as well as a condiment worldwide.

Use and storage

Soy sauce can be added directly to food, and is used as a dip or salt flavor in cooking. It is often eaten with rice, noodles, and sushi or sashimi, or can also be mixed with ground wasabi for dipping. Bottles of soy sauce for the salty seasoning of various foods are common on restaurant tables in many countries. Soy sauce can be stored at room temperature.

History

Asia

China

Soy sauce
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese醬油 / 豆油 / 豉油
Simplified Chinese酱油 / 豆油 / 豉油
Literal meaning"sauce oil" / "bean oil" / "fermented bean oil"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 11) (help)
Bopomofoㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄧㄡˊ
Wade–Gileschiang-yu
IPA
other Mandarin
Sichuanese Pinyin Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 33) (help)
Wu
Shanghainese
Romanization
Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 11) (help)
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationsih yàuh
Jyutping Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 12) (help)
IPA
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 8) (help)
Teochew Peng'imsi iu
Eastern Min
Fuzhou BUC Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 10) (help)
Burmese name
Burmeseပဲငံပြာရည်
IPA[pɛ́ ŋàɰ̃ bjà jè]
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetxì dầu / nước tương / tàu vị yểu
Chữ Nôm豉油 / 渃醬 / 豆味油
Thai name
Thaiซีอิ๊ว
RTGSsi-io
Korean name
Hangul간장
Hanja간醬
Literal meaning"seasoning sauce"
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationganjang
McCune–Reischauerkanjang
Japanese name
Kanji醤油
Hiraganaしょうゆ
Transcriptions
Revised Hepburnshōyu
Kunrei-shikisyôyu
Malay name
Malaykicap
Indonesian name
Indonesiankecap
Filipino name
Tagalogtoyo
Lao name
Laoເຕົ້າຈ້ຽວ (tao chiāu)
Khmer name
Khmerស៊ីអ៊ីវ (sii ’iiv)

Soy sauce (醬油, jiàngyóu) is considered almost as old as soy paste—a type of fermented paste (jiang, 醬) obtained from soybeans—which had appeared during the Western Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was listed in the bamboo slips found in the archaeological site Mawangdui (馬王堆). There are several precursors of soy sauce that are associated products with soy paste. The oldest is qingjiang (清醬), which appeared in AD 40 and was listed in Simin Yueling (四民月令). Others are jiangqing (醬清), chizhi (豉汁) and chiqing (豉清), which were recorded in the Qimin Yaoshu (齊民要術) in AD 540. By the time of the Song dynasty (960–1279 AD), the term soy sauce (醬油) had become the accepted name for the liquid condiment, documented in two books: Shanjia Qinggong (山家清供) and Pujiang Wushi Zhongkuilu (浦江吳氏中饋錄) during the Song dynasty (960–1279 AD).

Like many salty condiments, soy sauce was originally a way to stretch salt, historically an expensive commodity. During the Zhou dynasty of ancient China, fermented fish with salt was used as a condiment in which soybeans were included during the fermentation process. By the time of the Han dynasty, this had been replaced with the recipe for soy paste and its by-product soy sauce, by using soybeans as the principal ingredient, with fermented fish-based sauces developing separately into fish sauce.

The 19th century Sinologist Samuel Wells Williams wrote that in China, the best soy sauce was "made by boiling beans soft, adding an equal quantity of wheat or barley, and leaving the mass to ferment; a portion of salt and three times as much water are afterwards put in, and the whole compound left for two or three months when the liquid is pressed and strained".

Japan

Shoyu ramen, flavored with soy sauce

A condiment that predated soy sauce in Japan was gyoshō (魚醤), a fish sauce. When practitioners of Buddhism came to Japan from China in the 7th century, they introduced vegetarianism and brought many soy-based products with them, such as soy sauce, which is known as shōyu (醤油) in Japan. Shoyu exportation began in 1647 by the Dutch East India Company.

Korea

The earliest soy sauce brewing in Korea seems to have begun in the era of the Three Kingdoms The Records of the Three Kingdoms, a Chinese historical text written and published in the 3rd century, mentions that "Goguryeo people are good at brewing and fermenting" in the section named Dongyi (Eastern foreigners) in the Book of Wei. Jangdoks used for soy sauce brewing are found in the mural paintings of Anak Tomb No. 3 from the 4th century Goguryeo.

In Samguk sagi, a historical record of the Three Kingdoms era, it is written that ganjang (soy sauce) and doenjang (soybean paste), along with meju (soybean block) and jeotgal (salted seafood), were prepared for the wedding ceremony of the King Sinmun in February 683. Sikhwaji, a section from Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), recorded that ganjang and doenjang were included in the relief supplies in 1018, after a Khitan invasion, and in 1052, when a famine occurred. Joseon texts such as Guhwangchwaryo and Jeungbo sallim gyeongje contain the detailed procedures on how to brew good quality ganjang and doenjang. Gyuhap chongseo explains how to pick a date for brewing, what to forbear, and how to keep and preserve ganjang and doenjang.

Philippines

In the Philippines, soy sauce was likely first recorded through the documentation of the traditional dish adobo in 1613 via the San Buenaventura paper. Food historian Raymond Sokolov noted that the ingredients used in the dish, including soy sauce, likely were present in the native cuisine even before the colonial-era record.

Europe

Records of the Dutch East India Company list soy sauce as a commodity in 1737, when seventy-five large barrels were shipped from Dejima, Japan, to Batavia (present-day Jakarta) on the island of Java. Thirty-five barrels from that shipment were then shipped to the Netherlands. In the 18th century, diplomat and scholar Isaac Titsingh published accounts of brewing soy sauce. Although earlier descriptions of soy sauce had been disseminated in the West, his was among the earliest to focus specifically on the brewing of the Japanese version. By the mid-19th century, Japanese soy sauce gradually disappeared from the European market, and the condiment became synonymous with the Chinese product. Europeans were unable to make soy sauce because they did not have access to Aspergillus oryzae, the fungus used in its brewing. Soy sauce made from ingredients such as portobello mushrooms were disseminated in European cookbooks during the late 18th century. A Swedish recipe for "Soija" was published in the 1770 edition of Cajsa Warg's Hjelpreda i Hushållningen för Unga Fruentimber and was flavored with allspice and mace.

United States

Soy sauce production in the United States began in the Territory of Hawaii in 1905 by Yamajo Soy Co, which by 1909 was renamed the Hawaiian Soy Company Ltd. La Choy started selling hydrolyzed vegetable protein–based soy sauce in 1933.

Production

Soy sauce is made from soybeans.

Soy sauce is made either by fermentation or by hydrolysis. Some commercial sauces have both fermented and chemical sauces.

Flavor, color, and aroma developments during production are attributed to non-enzymatic Maillard browning.

Variation is usually achieved as the result of different methods and durations of fermentation, different ratios of water, salt, and fermented soy, or through the addition of other ingredients.

Traditional

Further information: Soup soy sauce § Production

Traditional soy sauces are made by mixing soybeans and grain with mold cultures such as Aspergillus oryzae and other related microorganisms and yeasts (the resulting mixture is called Koji in Japan; the term koji is used both for the mixture of soybeans, wheat, and mold as well as for the mold itself). Historically, the mixture was fermented naturally in large urns and under the sun, which was believed to contribute extra flavors. Today, the mixture is placed in a temperature- and humidity-controlled incubation chamber.

Traditional soy sauces take months to make:

  1. Soaking and cooking: The soybeans are soaked in water and boiled until cooked. Wheat is roasted and crushed.
  2. Koji culturing: Equal amounts of boiled soybeans and roasted wheat are mixed to form a grain mixture. A culture of Aspergillus spore is added to the grain mixture and mixed, or the mixture is allowed to gather spores from the environment itself. The cultures include:
    • Aspergillus: a genus of fungus that is used for fermenting various ingredients (the cultures are called koji in Japanese). Three species are used for brewing soy sauce:
      • A. oryzae: Strains with high proteolytic capacity are used for brewing soy sauce.
      • A. sojae: This fungus also has a high proteolytic capacity.
      • A. tamarii: This fungus is used for brewing tamari, a variety of soy sauce.
    • Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the yeasts in the culture convert some of the sugars to ethanol which can undergo secondary reactions to make other flavor compounds
    • Other microbes contained in the culture:
      • Bacillus spp. (genus): This organism is likely to grow in soy sauce ingredients, and to generate odors and ammonia.
      • Lactobacillus species: This organism makes a lactic acid that increases the acidity in the feed.
  3. Brewing: The cultured grain mixture is mixed into a specific amount of salt brine for wet fermentation or with coarse salt for dry fermentation and left to brew. Over time, the Aspergillus mold on the soy and wheat break down the grain proteins into free amino acid and protein fragments and starches into simple sugars. This amino-glycosidic reaction gives soy sauce its dark brown color. Lactic acid bacteria ferments the sugars into lactic acid and yeast makes ethanol, which through aging and secondary fermentation makes numerous flavor compounds typical of soy sauce.
  4. Pressing: The fully fermented grain slurry is placed into cloth-lined containers and pressed to separate the solids from the liquid soy sauce. The isolated solids are used as fertilizer or fed to animals while the liquid soy sauce is processed further.
  5. Pasteurization: The raw soy sauce is heated to eliminate any active yeasts and molds remaining in the soy sauce and can be filtered to remove any fine particulates.
  6. Storage: The soy sauce can be aged or directly bottled and sold.
Soy and wheat with Aspergillus sojae cultures to brew soy sauce

High-salt liquid-state fermented soy sauce

High-salt liquid-state fermentation (HLF) of soybeans depends heavily on microbial activity, metabolism and enzymatic hydrolysis of macronutrients. Most traditional approaches fall into the scope of HLF.

  • During HLF, koji-infused soybeans are exposed to air so that hydrolytic enzymes of the mold can continuously break down macronutrients within the soybean.
  • Ample water, usually about 2 to 2.5 times the weight of the feed, is required to support sufficient microbial growth.
  • High salt concentration (17–20%) is required to selectively inhibit microbial activity.
  • HLF is generally carried out at 15–30 °C (59–86 °F), and requires a long ageing period, usually from 90 to 180 days. In the aging period, constant stirring of moromi (a mash/mixture of wheat (optionally), salt, soy beans, water, and fermenting yeast) is required for distributing nutrients, as well as flavoring compounds evenly. In some cases, moromi is exposed to direct sunlight to facilitate the decomposition of macronutrients.
  • Due to the high salinity of HLF moromi, only anaerobic halophiles can survive in the medium. Also, the 15–30 °C (59–86 °F) temperature range allows only the growth of mesophiles. Similar to the fermentation of pickles, the primary lactic acid fermentation of sugars by halophiles reduces the pH of moromi down to acidic range. Low pH further limits the growth of undesirable microbes, but favors the growth of fermentative yeast which contributes to secondary fermentation that generates various flavoring compounds and odorants.

Low-salt solid-state fermented soy sauce

LSF, also referred as rapid fermenting, is a modern fermentation method invented in response to high market demand.

  • Compared to HLF, LSF employs pure cultures at a relatively higher temperature (40–55 °C (104–131 °F)) and lower brine solution concentrations (13–15%). In LSF, koji is mixed with the equivalent weight of brine to form solid moromi.
  • The elevated temperature accelerates the fermentation process significantly. Due to the short aging (15–30 days) period of LSF, and low production cost, LSF soy sauce accounts for more share of the Chinese soy sauce market.

LSF evolved from salt-free solid-state fermentation, an even faster method working at even higher temperatures (50–65 °C (122–149 °F)) and taking 72 hours to complete, introduced to China from the Soviet Union in 1958. The aging time turned out to be too short develop a proper flavor profile, with burnt acidic notes left in the sauce. LSF is a compromise between this method and the more traditional HLF: the product tastes passable with more microbes allowed to survive, but still lacks depth. Reducing the salt content accelerates brewing by lifting salt-induced enzyme inhibition.

Acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Main article: Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Some brands of soy sauce are made from acid-hydrolyzed soy protein instead of brewed with a traditional culture. This takes about three days. Although they have a different flavor, aroma, and texture when compared to brewed soy sauces, they can be produced more quickly and cheaply, and also have a longer shelf life and are usually made for these reasons. The clear plastic packets of dark sauce common with Chinese-style take-out food typically use a hydrolyzed vegetable protein formula. Some higher-priced hydrolyzed vegetable protein products with no added sugar or colorings are sold as low-sodium soy sauce alternatives called "liquid aminos" in health food stores, similar to the way salt substitutes are used. These products are, however, not necessarily low in sodium.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of soy sauce is affected by the proportions of raw materials, fermentation methodologies, fermenting molds and strains, and post-fermentation treatments. Although the formation mechanism of chemical composition in soy sauce is complex, it has been widely accepted that free amino acids, water-soluble peptides and Maillard reaction products in soy sauce are considered as essential chemical composition and to provide core sensory effects. The primary fermentation of lactic-acid-fermenting halophiles lowers the pH of the moromi, and this directly results in the acidic pH range (4.4–5.4) of soy sauce products. The secondary fermentation conducted by heterofermentative microbes provides soy sauce with a wide range of flavor and odorant compounds by breaking down macronutrients. Soy proteins and grain proteins are hydrolyzed into short peptide chains and free amino acids, which adds umami to the product. Based on the result of free amino acid analysis, the most abundant amino acids in Chinese soy sauce product are glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and leucine.

Starch is hydrolyzed into simple sugars which contribute to the sweet flavor in soy sauce. Legume fats may also be decomposed into short chain fatty acids, and the interactions among lipids and other macronutrients also result in a richer flavor in the final product. Non-enzymatic browning also contributes significantly to the development of the properties of soy sauce. The hydrolysis of proteins and large carbohydrates also provides free amino acids and simple sugars as reagents for the Maillard reaction.

Soy sauce may contain more than 1% alcohol and may run afoul of liquor control legislation.

Sensory profile

This section uses three-letter codes for amino acids to save space. See Proteinogenic amino acid § Structures for a list.

The taste of soy sauce is predominated by saltiness, followed by moderate umami, sweetness, and finally slight bitterness, which is hard to perceive due to the masking effect of other tastes. The overall flavor of soy sauce is a result of the balance and interaction among different taste components. The saltiness is largely attributed to the presence of NaCl (common salt) in brine. The sugars hydrolyzed from starch add sweetness into soy sauce. Umami is largely caused by the presence of free amino acids, mainly glutamine and aspartic acid. Sodium from the brine and disodium ribonucleotides from the soy also add to the umami. Other amino acids cause additional basic flavors, with sweet coming from Ala, Gly, Ser, and Thr; bitter coming from Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Trp, Tyr, and Val; and no taste from Cys, Lys, and Pro. The amino-acid nitrogen content, an indication of the free amino acid concentration, is used in China for grading soy sauce. The highest "special grade" is defined at ≥ 0.8 g/100 mL.

Despite a large variety of volatile and odorant compounds that have been identified in soy sauce, the food product per se does not present a strong aroma. Alcohols, acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, heterocyclic compounds, alkynes and benzenes have been identified in Chinese soy sauces. An explanation for this observation is that the aroma of soy sauce does not depend largely on the aroma-active compounds. The subtle aroma is a result of a "critical balance" achieved among all volatile and odorant compounds, whose respective concentrations are relatively low.

Variations by country

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Soy sauce is widely used as an important flavoring and has been integrated into the traditional cuisines of many East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. Despite their rather similar appearance, soy sauces made in different cultures and regions are different in taste, consistency, fragrance and saltiness. Soy sauce retains its quality longer when kept away from direct sunlight.

Burmese

Burmese soy sauce production is dated back to the Bagan Era in the 9th and 10th century. Scripts written in praise of pe ngan byar yay (ပဲငံပြာရည်, literally "bean fish sauce") were found. Thick soy sauce is called kya nyo (ကြာညို့, from Chinese jiàngyóu).

Chinese

Chinese soy sauces (Chinese: ; pinyin: jiàng yóu; Jyutping: zoeng3 jau4; Cantonese Yale: jeungyàuh; or alternatively, 豉油; pinyin: chǐyóu; Jyutping: si6jau4; Cantonese Yale: sihyàuh) are primarily made from soybeans, with relatively low amounts of other grains. Chinese soy sauce produced by fermentation can be roughly split into two classes: brewed (direct fermented) or blended (with additives), occupying about 40% and 60% of market share respectively. Sauces can also be classed by fermentation technology (shown above) into Low-Salt Solid-State fermented soy sauce (LSF; 低盐固态) and High-Salt Liquid-State fermented soy sauce (HLF; 高盐稀态), occupying about 90% and 10% of market share respectively.

A bottle of soy sauce manufactured by Lee Kum Kee

Brewed

A bottle of commercially made light soy sauce

Soy sauce can be brewed directly from a fermentation process using wheat, soybeans, salt, and water without additional additives.

  • Light or fresh (; pinyin: shēng chōu; Jyutping: saang1 cau1; Cantonese Yale: sāangchāu or ; pinyin: jiàng qīng; Jyutping: zoeng3 cing1; Cantonese Yale: jeungchīng): is a thin (low viscosity), opaque, lighter brown soy sauce, brewed by first culturing steamed wheat and soybeans with Aspergillus, and then letting the mixture ferment in brine. It is the main soy sauce used for seasoning, since it is saltier, has less noticeable color, and also adds a distinct flavor.
    • Tóu chōu (): A light soy sauce made from the first pressing of the soybeans, this can be loosely translated as "first soy sauce" or referred to as premium light soy sauce. Tóu chōu is sold at a premium because, like extra virgin olive oil, the flavor of the first pressing is considered superior. Due to its delicate flavor it is used primarily for seasoning light dishes and for dipping.
    • Shuāng huáng (): A light soy sauce that is double-fermented by using the light soy sauce from another batch to take the place of brine for a second brewing. This adds further complexity to the flavor of the light soy sauce. Due to its complex flavor this soy sauce is used primarily for dipping.
  • Yìn yóu (): A darker soy sauce brewed primarily in Taiwan by culturing only steamed soybeans with Aspergillus and mixing the cultured soybeans with coarse rock salt before undergoing prolonged dry fermentation. The flavor of this soy sauce is complex and rich and is used for dipping or in red cooking. For the former use, yìn yóu can be thickened with starch to make a thick soy sauce.

Blended

Additives with sweet or umami tastes are sometimes added to a finished brewed soy sauce to modify its taste and texture.

  • Dark and old soy sauce (; pinyin: lǎo chōu; Jyutping: lou5 cau1; Cantonese Yale: lóuhchāu), a darker and slightly thicker soy sauce made from light soy sauce. This soy sauce is made through prolonged aging and may contain added caramel color and/or molasses to give it its distinctive appearance. It has a richer, slightly sweeter, and less salty flavor than light soy sauce. This variety is mainly used during cooking, since its flavor develops during heating. Dark soy sauce is mainly used to add color and flavor to a dish after cooking. One of the strongest varieties is known as "double black" (双老头抽)
    • Mushroom dark soy ( cǎogū lǎochōu): In the finishing and aging process of making dark soy sauce, the broth of Volvariella volvacea (straw mushroom) is mixed into the soy sauce and is then exposed to the sun to make this type of dark soy. The added broth gives this soy sauce a richer flavor than plain dark soy sauce.
    • Thick soy sauce ( jiàng yóu gāo), is a dark soy sauce that has been thickened with heat and sugar, occasionally a starch thickener and MSG are used. This sauce is often used as a dipping sauce or finishing sauce and poured on food as a flavorful addition. However, due to its sweetness and caramelized flavors from its production process the sauce is also used in red cooking.
  • Shrimp soy sauce ( Xiā zǐ jiàngyóu): Fresh soy sauce is simmered with fresh shrimp and finished with sugar, baijiu (type of distilled liquor, 白酒), and spices. A specialty of Suzhou.

Besides the above traditional types, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and other flavor enhancers may be mixed with brewed soy sauce to produce cheaper substitutes. This type is known as "blended soy sauce" (Chinese: 配制酱油) in China until 2019, when a chinese 2018 standard that removed this type from the definition of soy sauce went into effect.

The 2018 chinese standard defines soy sauce as "liquid condiments with special color, aroma and taste made from soybeans and/or defatted soybeans, wheat and/or wheat flour and/or wheat bran as main raw materials through microbial fermentation." It still allows food additives to be used "following the definitions of GB 2760", which does not restrict the use of MSG and disodium ribonucleotides. (Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is not listed as a food additive in GB 2760 and is therefore unacceptable in products labelled as "soy sauce".)

Filipino

Toyomansi, a typical Filipino dipping sauce composed of soy sauce and calamansi spiced with siling labuyo

In the Philippines, soy sauce is called toyò in the native languages, derived from tau-yu in Philippine Hokkien. Philippine soy sauce is usually a combination of soybeans, wheat, salt, and caramel color. It is thinner in texture and has a saltier taste than its Southeast Asian counterparts. It is most similar to the Japanese koikuchi shōyu in terms of consistency and the use of wheat, though toyò is a bit saltier and darker in color.

Toyò is used as a marinade, an ingredient in cooked dishes, and most often as a table condiment, usually alongside other sauces such as fish sauce (patís) and sugar cane vinegar (sukà). It is often mixed and served with the juice of the calamansi (× Citrofortunella microcarpa; also called calamondin, limonsito). The combination is known as toyomansî, which can be comparable to the Japanese ponzu sauce (soy sauce with yuzu). Toyò is also a main ingredient in Philippine adobo, one of the more famous dishes of Filipino cuisine.

Hawaiian

Soy sauce is a ubiquitous condiment and ingredient in many dishes in Hawaiian cuisine, where it is commonly known by its Japanese name shōyu by locals. Aloha Shoyu is a soy sauce manufacturer in Hawaii that produces a popular soy sauce whose flavor is more delicate and somewhat sweeter compared to other more well-known soy sauces.

Indonesian

Main article: Sweet soy sauce
Left, ABC brand Kecap manis sweet Indonesian soy sauce is nearly as thick as molasses; right, Kecap asin

In Indonesia, soy sauce is known as kecap (old spelling: ketjap), which is a catch-all term for fermented sauces, and cognate to the English word "ketchup". The most popular type of soy sauce in Indonesian cuisine is kecap manis or sweet soy sauce. The term kecap is also used to describe other condiments and sauces of a similar appearance, such as kecap ikan (fish sauce) and kecap Inggris (worcestershire sauce; lit. "English sauce" or "England sauce"). Three common varieties of soy-based kecap exist in Indonesian cuisine, used either as ingredients or condiments:

  • Kecap manis: Sweetened soy sauce, which has a thick syrupy consistency and a unique, pronounced, sweet, somewhat treacle-like flavor due to generous addition of palm sugar. Regular soy with brown sugar and a trace of molasses added can substitute. It is by far the most popular type of soy sauce employed in Indonesian cuisine, accounts for an estimated 90 percent of the nation's total soy sauce production. Kecap manis is an important sauce in Indonesian signature dishes, such as nasi goreng, mie goreng, satay, tongseng and semur. Sambal kecap for example is type of sambal dipping sauce of kecap manis with sliced chili, tomato and shallot, a popular dipping sauce for sate kambing (goat meat satay) and ikan bakar (grilled fish/seafood). Since soy sauce is of Chinese origin, kecap asin is also an important seasoning in Chinese Indonesian cuisine.
  • Kecap manis sedang: Medium sweet soy sauce, which has a less thick consistency, is less sweet and has a saltier taste than kecap manis.
  • Kecap asin: Regular soy sauce derived from the Japanese shoyu, but usually more concentrated and thicker, with a darker color and stronger flavor; it can be replaced by Chinese light soy sauce in some recipes. Salty soy sauce was first introduced into Indonesia by Hokkien people so its taste resembles that of Chinese soy sauce. Hakka soy sauce made from black beans is very salty and large productions are mainly made in Bangka Island.

Japanese

Japanese supermarket soy sauce corner

Shōyu is officially divided into five main types by the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard) depending on differences in their ingredients and method of production. These types are koikuchi, usukuchi, tamari, saishikomi, and shiro.

Most, but not all, Japanese soy sauces include wheat as a primary ingredient, which tends to give them a slightly sweeter taste than their Chinese counterparts. They also tend towards an alcoholic sherry-like flavor, sometimes enhanced by the addition of small amounts of alcohol as a natural preservative. The widely varying flavors of these soy sauces are not always interchangeable, so some recipes only call for one type or the other, much as a white wine cannot replace a red's flavor or beef stock does not make the same results as fish stock.

Some soy sauces made in the Japanese way or styled after them contain about 50% wheat.

Varieties

  • Koikuchi (濃口, 'thick taste'): Originating in the Kantō region, its usage eventually spread all over Japan. Over 80% of the Japanese domestic soy sauce production is of koikuchi, and can be considered the typical Japanese soy sauce. It is made from roughly equal quantities of soybean and wheat. This variety is also called kijōyu (生醤油) or namashōyu (生しょうゆ) when it is not pasteurized.
  • Usukuchi (薄口, 'thin taste'): Almost 14% of soy sauce production is usukuchi shoyu. It is particularly popular in the Kansai region of Japan. It matures for less time than koichuchi and is both saltier and lighter in color. It is paler due to the use in its production of amazake, a sweet liquid made from fermented rice. Usukuchi is commonly used in cooking as it does not alter the color and taste of the ingredients.
  • Tamari (たまり): Made mainly in the Chūbu region of Japan, tamari is darker in appearance and richer in flavor than koikuchi. It contains little or no wheat. Wheat-free tamari can be used by people with gluten intolerance. Tamari is more viscous than koikuchi shoyu. Of soy sauce produced in Japan, 1.5% is tamari. It is the "original" Japanese soy sauce, as its recipe is closest to the soy sauce originally introduced to Japan from China. Technically, this variety is known as miso-damari (味噌溜り), as this is the liquid that runs off miso (a soybean-based seasoning and soup base) as it matures. The Japanese word tamari is derived from the verb tamaru (溜る, 'to accumulate'), referring to the fact that tamari was traditionally a liquid byproduct made during the fermentation of miso. Japan remains the leading producer of tamari, though it has also become popular in the United States. Tamari shoyu is often used for sashimi. Oftentimes, other varieties of soy sauce for sashimi are inaccurately referred to as tamari shoyu. The back label in Japan, by law, will clarify whether or not it is actually tamari.
  • Shiro (白, 'white'): In contrast to tamari soy sauce, shiro uses mostly wheat and very little soybean, lending it a light appearance and sweet taste. It is more commonly used in the Kansai region to highlight the appearances of food, for example sashimi. Shiro shoyu used to be used a lot in high-class cookery and is generally not available abroad. Its main use is for pickles. Of soy sauce production in Japan, 0.7% is shiro.
  • Saishikomi (再仕込, 'twice-brewed'): This variety substitutes previously made koikuchi for the brine normally used in the process. Consequently, it is much darker and more strongly flavored. This type is also known as kanro shōyu (甘露醤油, 'sweet soy sauce'). Of soy sauce production in Japan, 0.8% is saishikomi.
  • Kanro shoyu is a variety of soy sauce made exclusively in Yanai, a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is handmade and is less salty and less sweet than saishikomi shoyu.
  • Amakuchi (甘口, 'sweet taste'): It is similar to koikuchi soy sauce, but with sweetener added. It is the most popular type of soy sauce in Kyushu region of Japan, which is famous for sweet foods. In some cases, it is more common to find amakuchi shoyu than koikuchi shoyu in Kyushu.

Newer varieties of Japanese soy sauce include:

  • Gen'en (, 'reduced salt'): This version contains 50% less salt than regular soy sauce for consumers concerned about heart disease.
  • Usujio (, 'light salt'): This version contains 20% less salt than regular soy sauce.

All of these varieties are sold in three different grades according to how they were made:

  • Honjōzō (本醸造, 'genuine fermented'): Contains 100% genuine fermented product
  • Kongō-jōzō (混合醸造, 'mixed fermented'): Contains genuine fermented shōyu mash mixed with 30–50% of chemical or enzymatic hydrolysate of plant protein
  • Kongō (混合, 'mixed'): Contains honjōzō or Kongō-jōzō shōyu mixed with 30–50% of chemical or enzymatic hydrolysate of plant protein

All the varieties and grades may be sold according to three official levels of quality:

  • Hyōjun (標準): standard grade, contains more than 1.2% total nitrogen
  • Jōkyū (上級): upper grade, contains more than 1.35% of total nitrogen
  • Tokkyū (特級): special grade, contains more than 1.5% of total nitrogen

Korean

In South Korea, soy sauces or ganjang (간장, "seasoning sauce") can be roughly split into two categories: hansik ganjang ('Korean-style soy sauce') and gaeryang ganjang ('modernized soy sauce'). The term ganjang can also refer to non-soy-based salty condiments, such as eo-ganjang fish sauce.

Traditional Korean soy sauce

Hansik ganjang

Main article: soup soy sauce

Hansik ganjang (한식간장, 'Korean-style soy sauce') is made entirely of fermented soybean (meju) and brine. It is a byproduct of doenjang (fermented soybean paste) production, and has a unique fermented soybean flavour. Both lighter in colour and saltier than other Korean ganjang varieties, hansik ganjang is used mainly in guk (soup) and namul (seasoned vegetable dish) in modern Korean cuisine. Common names for hansik ganjang include jaeraesik ganjang (재래식 간장, "traditional soy sauce"), Joseon-ganjang (조선간장, "Joseon soy sauce"), and guk-ganjang (국간장, "soup soy sauce"). The homebrewed variety is also called jip-ganjang (집간장, "home soy sauce").

Depending on the length of aging, hansik ganjang can be divided into three main varieties: clear, middle, and dark.

  • Haet-ganjang (햇간장, "new soy sauce") – soy sauce aged for a year. Also called cheongjang (청장, "clear soy sauce").
  • Jung-ganjang (중간장, "middle soy sauce") – soy sauce aged for three to four years.
  • Jin-ganjang (진간장, "dark soy sauce") – soy sauce aged for more than five years. Also called jinjang (진장, "aged soy sauce"), nongjang (농장, "thick soy sauce"), or jingamjang (진감장, "aged mature soy sauce").

Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's Food Code classifies hansik-ganjang into two categories by their ingredients.

  • Jaerae-hansik-ganjang (재래한식간장, "traditional Korean-style soy sauce") – made with traditional style meju and brine.
  • Gaeryang-hansik-ganjang (개량한식간장, "modernized Korean-style soy sauce") – made with nontraditional meju (which can be made of regular soybean, rice, barley, wheat, or soybean meal, and ripened using traditional method or Aspergillus) and brine.

Gaeryang ganjang

Gaeryang-ganjang (개량간장, "modernized soy sauce"), referring to varieties of soy sauces not made of meju, is now the most widely used type of soy sauce in modern Korean cuisine. The word ganjang without modifiers in bokkeum (stir-fry), jorim (braised or simmered dishes), and jjim (steamed dishes) recipes usually mean gaeryang-ganjang. Another common name of gaeryang-ganjang is jin-ganjang (진간장, "dark soy sauce"), because gaeryang-ganjang varieties are usually darker in appearance compared to traditional hansik ganjang. Having been introduced to Korea during the era of Japanese forced occupation, garyang ganjang is also called Wae-ganjang (왜간장, "Wae soy sauce").

Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's Food Code classifies gaeryang-ganjang into four categories by their method of production.

  • Brewed soy sauce (양조간장, yangjo-ganjang) – made by fermenting soybean, soybean meal, or other grains with saline solution.
  • Acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce (산분해간장) – made by hydrolyzing raw materials containing protein with acid.
  • Enzyme-hydrolyzed soy sauce (효소분해간장) – made by hydrolyzing raw materials containing protein with enzyme.
  • Blended soy sauce (혼합간장) – Also called mixed soy sauce, blended soy sauce can be made by blending hansik-ganjang (Korean-style soy sauce) or yangjo-ganjang (brewed soy sauce) with acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce or enzyme-hydrolyzed soy sauce.

Other

Malaysian and Singaporean

Malays from Malaysia, using the Malay dialect similar to Indonesian, use the word kicap for soy sauce. Kicap is traditionally of two types: kicap lemak (lit "fat/rich soy sauce") and kicap cair. Kicap lemak is similar to Indonesian kecap manis but with very much less sugar, while kicap cair is the Malaysian equivalent of kecap asin.

Peru

Soy sauce, known in Peru as sillao from the Cantonese name of the item, is an important ingredient in Chifa.

Sri Lankan

Soy sauce (Sinhala: සෝයා සෝස්) is a popular food product used in Sri Lanka and is a major ingredient used in the nationally popular street food dish kottu. Soy sauce has largely been produced by the Sri Lankan Chinese community but its production has also spread to other communities in Sri Lanka. Soy sauce production in Sri Lanka is the same as the production of soy sauce in Indonesia. Fermentation occurs over a period of three months. The soy beans which are steeped in brine are then pressed to obtain a liquid sauce.

Taiwanese

The history of soy sauce making in Taiwan can be traced back to southeastern China, in the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong. Taiwanese soy sauce is known for its black bean variant, known as black bean soy sauce (黑豆蔭油), which producers claim to have stronger flavor and more nutrition. Most soy sauce makers in Taiwan make soy sauce from soybeans and wheat using machines, which is a technique introduced during Japanese rule. A smaller number of producers continue to handmake soy sauce in the traditional way.

Thai

Soft serve usually topped with Thai sweet soy sauce served at Yaowarat, Bangkok, Thailand

In Thailand, soy sauce is called sii-íu (Thai: ซีอิ๊ว). Sii-íu kǎao (Thai: ซีอิ๊วขาว, 'white soy sauce') is used as regular soy sauce in Thai cuisine, while sii-íu dam (Thai: ซีอิ๊วดำ, 'black soy sauce') is used primarily for colour. Another darker-coloured variety, sii-íu wǎan (Thai: ซีอิ๊วหวาน, 'sweet soy sauce') is used for dipping sauces. Sɔ́ɔt prung rót (Thai: ซอสปรุงรส, 'seasoning sauce') is also commonly used in modern Thai cuisine.

Vietnamese

A bottle of xì dầu

In Vietnam, Chinese-style soy sauce is called xì dầu (derived from the Cantonese name 豉油) or nước tương. The term "soy sauce" could also imply other condiments and soy bean paste with thick consistency known as tương. Both are used mostly as a seasoning or dipping sauce for a number of dishes. Vietnamese cuisine itself favors fish sauce in cooking, but nước tương has a clear presence in vegetarian cuisine and Buddhist cuisine.

Nutrition

A study by the National University of Singapore showed that Chinese dark soy sauce contains 10 times the antioxidants of red wine. Unpasteurized soy sauce is rich in lactic acid bacteria and of excellent anti-allergic potential.

Soy sauce does not contain the level of isoflavones associated with other soy products, such as tofu or edamame. It can also be very salty, having a salt content between 14 and 18%. Low-sodium soy sauces are made, but it is difficult to make soy sauce without using some quantity of salt as an antimicrobial agent.

A serving of 100 millilitres (3.5 imp fl oz; 3.4 US fl oz) of soy sauce contains, according to the USDA:

  • Energy : 60 kcal
  • Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5.57 g
  • Fibers: 0.8 g
  • Protein: 10.51 g
  • Sodium: 6 g

Carcinogens

Soy sauce may contain ethyl carbamate, a Group 2A carcinogen.

In 2001, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency found in testing various soy sauces manufactured in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand (made from hydrolyzed soy protein, rather than being naturally fermented) that 22% of tested samples contained a chemical carcinogen named 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) at levels considerably higher than those deemed safe by the EU. About two-thirds of these samples also contained a second carcinogenic chemical named 1,3-DCP (1,3-dichloropropane-2-ol) which experts advise should not be present at any levels in food. Both chemicals have the potential to cause cancer, and the Agency recommended that the affected products be withdrawn from shelves and avoided. The same carcinogens were found in soy sauces manufactured in Vietnam, causing a food scare in 2007.

In Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society writes,

Health Canada has concluded that there is no health risk to Canadians from use of available soy and oyster sauces. Because continuous lifetime exposure to high levels of 3-MCPD could pose a health risk, Health Canada has established 1.0 part per million (ppm) as a guideline for importers of these sauces, in order to reduce Canadians' long-term exposure to this chemical. This is considered to be a very safe level.

Allergies

Further information: Soy allergy

Soy sauce allergy not caused by soy or wheat allergy is rare. Most varieties of soy sauce contain wheat, to which some people have a medical intolerance. However, protein hydrolysis (fermentation or industrial) breaks down gluten, so some soy sauces may end up tolerable to gluten-intolerant individuals with no detectable gluten left. Japanese tamari soy sauce is traditionally wheat-free, and some tamari available commercially today is wheat- and gluten-free.

Acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein is non-allergenic due to the completeness of protein breakdown.

See also

Portals:

References

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