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Soy sauce

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Soy Sauce (Soya Sauce)
Chinese Name
Pinyinjiàng yóu
Wade-Gileschiang-yu
Mandarin Chinese (Traditional)醬油
Mandarin Chinese (Simplified)酱油
Cantonese豉油, see yau
Japanese Name
Hepburn Romajishō-yu
Kanji醤油
Korean Name
Revised Romanizationganjang
Hangul간장

Soy sauce (US) or soya sauce is a fermented sauce made from soybeans (soya beans), roasted grain, water and salt. It is commonly used in Asian cuisine and appears in some Western cuisine dishes, especially as an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce or Maggi Seasoning. Authentic soy sauces are fermented with kōji ((麹) (the mold Aspergillus oryzae or A. sojae), and other related microorganisms. Virtually all soy sauce has some alcohol added during bottling, which acts as a preservative to protect against spoilage. Accordingly, soy sauce should always be kept refrigerated and out of direct light.

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. Although this seasoning originated in China, it is used in various cuisines across Asia and is a particularly important flavoring in Japanese cuisine. However, Chinese and Japanese soy sauces are substantially different, and it is rarely appropriate to substitute one for the other.

Chinese Soy Sauce

Chinese soy sauces are primarily made from soybeans, with relatively low amounts of other grains. There are three main varieties:

  • shēngchōu (生抽) Light/fresh soy sauce: A thick, opaque, light brown sauce. It is the main soy sauce used for seasoning, since it is saltier. Since it is lighter, it does not greatly affect the color of the dish.
  • lǎochōu (老抽) Dark/old soy sauce: A dark, thick soy sauce that is aged longer and contains added molasses to give it its distinctive look. This variety is mainly used during cooking since its flavour develops under heating. It has a richer, less salty flavour than light soy sauce. Part of the reason for using dark soy sauce is to add color to a dish.
  • Thick soy sauce (醬油膏 or 蔭油膏): Dark soy sauce that has been thickened with starch and sugar. It is also occasionally flavored with MSG. This sauce is not usually used directly in cooking but more often as a dipping sauce or poured on food as a flavorful addition.

Indonesian Soy Sauce

In Indonesia, soy sauce is known as kecap (a catchall term for fermented sauces), from which the English word "ketchup" is in fact derived. Two main varieties exist:

  • Ketcap Asin: Salty soy sauce, which is very similar to Cinese light soy sauce, but usually somewhat thicker and has a stronger flavor; it can be replaced by light Chinese soy sauce in recipes and
  • Kecap Manis: Sweet soy sauce, which has a thick, almost syrupy consistency and a pronounced sweet, treacle-like flavor due to generous addition of palm sugar. It is a unique variety; in a pinch, it may be replaced by molasses with a little vegetable stock stirred in.

Ketcap Inggris ("English fermented sauce") ist the Bahasa Indonesia name for Worcestershire sauce. Ketcap Ikan is Indonesian fish sauce.

Japanese Soy Sauce

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

  • Koikuchi (濃口) - 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 produced 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) - Particularly popular in the Kansai region of Japan, it is both saltier and lighter in color than koikuchi. The lighter color arises from the usage of amazake, a sweet liquid made from fermented rice, that is used in its production.
  • Tamari (たまり) - Produced mainly in the Chūbu region of Japan, "tamari" is produced mainly from soybean, with only a small amount of wheat. Consequently, it is much darker in appearance and richer in flavour than "koikuchi". 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 as it matures.
  • Shiro (白, white) - A very light colored soy sauce. In contrast to "tamari" soy sauce, "shiro" soy sauce uses more 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.
  • 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".
  • genen (減塩) - 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.
  • amakuchi (甘口) - Called "Hawaiian Soy Sauce" in those few parts of the US familiar with it, this is a variant of "koikuchi" soy sauce.

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

  • honjōzō hōshiki (本醸造 方式) - Contains 100% naturally fermented product.
  • shinshiki hōshiki (新式 方式) - Contains 30-50% naturally fermented product.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • abuakane (初茜) - Refers to industrial grade used for flavoring, powder.
  • chōtokusen (超特選) - Used by marketers to imply the best.

Perhaps the most well-known producer of Japanese soy sauce is the Kikkoman Corporation.

Health

Soy sauce does not contain the beneficial isoflavones associated with other soy products such as tofu or edamame. Soy sauce contains a small amount of naturally occurring MSG. It can also be extremely salty, so it is not a suitable condiment for some people, and should generally be taken in moderation. Low-salt soy sauces are produced, but it is impossible to make soy sauce without using some quantity of salt.

  • About Soysauce
  • Kikkoman - one of the world's leading producers of soy sauce. Primarily produces Japanese style soy sauce
  • San-J - Pictorial description of the brewing process at San-Jirushi site, another large producer.
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