Since 1879, Suehiro has used the same traditional methods to make their small-batch soy sauces in Japan’s Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture. We were especially wowed by their Double-Brewed Soy Sauce, or Saishikomi, which is deeply layered in comparison to any run-of-the-mill grocery version. Unlike most on the market, this soy is brewed not once but twice, first delicately with soybeans, wheat, salt, water and koji. Then, the mixture is brewed again, this time without salt or water, yielding an earthy, rich and viscous soy sauce that stands apart. It’s salty, but less so than other brands, with funky, coffee-like notes that round out into a dark, almost burnt caramelly sweetness. Use it anywhere you would soy sauce, but we love it most served simply with dishes that have few ingredients, like hand rolls and sashimi.
Since 1879, Suehiro has used the same traditional methods to make their small-batch soy sauces in Japan’s Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture. We were especially wowed by their Double-Brewed Soy Sauce, or Saishikomi, which is deeply layered in comparison to any run-of-the-mill grocery version. Unlike most on the market, this soy is brewed not once but twice, first delicately with soybeans, wheat, salt, water and koji. Then, the mixture is brewed again, this time without salt or water, yielding an earthy, rich and viscous soy sauce that stands apart. It’s salty, but less so than other brands, with funky, coffee-like notes that round out into a dark, almost burnt caramelly sweetness. Use it anywhere you would soy sauce, but we love it most served simply with dishes that have few ingredients, like hand rolls and sashimi.
Tamari, the liquid byproduct that results from pressing miso, is so much more than gluten-free soy sauce (a common misconception among American cooks). The distinct tamari from Ito Shoten—based in the Aichi Prefecture, a region of Japan known for deeply rich, uncommonly dark miso—is so complex it’s no wonder it has been likened to a wine. Aged in cedar barrels that are over 100 years old, Ito Shoten’s tamari develops a dark, almost inky color, as well as a wine-like depth and body. Its heady, malty aroma promises plenty of meaty savoriness, as well as caramel notes, deep umami and a lively salinity. This tamari is one to treasure: use it raw in small quantities to finish dishes where its flavor will shine, almost like a soy extract rather than a condiment. Its complexities get lost when it’s cooked into a sauce or dish.
Tamari, the liquid byproduct that results from pressing miso, is so much more than gluten-free soy sauce (a common misconception among American cooks). The distinct tamari from Ito Shoten—based in the Aichi Prefecture, a region of Japan known for deeply rich, uncommonly dark miso—is so complex it’s no wonder it has been likened to a wine. Aged in cedar barrels that are over 100 years old, Ito Shoten’s tamari develops a dark, almost inky color, as well as a wine-like depth and body. Its heady, malty aroma promises plenty of meaty savoriness, as well as caramel notes, deep umami and a lively salinity. This tamari is one to treasure: use it raw in small quantities to finish dishes where its flavor will shine, almost like a soy extract rather than a condiment. Its complexities get lost when it’s cooked into a sauce or dish.
A traditional condiment made from fermented malted rice, shio koji is known in Japan for packing a punch of umami into everything from marinated meats to savory soups. All shio kojis aren’t created equal, though, for Hanamaruki Foods distills the powerful flavor properties of this essential Japanese ingredient into an easy-to-use liquid form—the only Liquid Shio Koji available on the market—to create the ultimate pantry secret weapon. We love the condiment’s clean, yet bold flavor: salty rounded out with a pronounced sweetness and burst of umami. It’s made by pressing shio koji in its original paste form and filtering until it yields the clear, golden-hued liquid. The product isn’t heat-treated, so its enzymes remain active and effective in rendering meat remarkably moist and juicy, balancing bitterness in veggies like eggplant and adding amino acids for a full-flavored finish to any dish to truly change the way you cook. Use as a marinade for meats and fish, drizzle into salad dressings and sauces to balance savory flavors, or incorporate into baked goods to add a layer of tantalizing complexity.
A traditional condiment made from fermented malted rice, shio koji is known in Japan for packing a punch of umami into everything from marinated meats to savory soups. All shio kojis aren’t created equal, though, for Hanamaruki Foods distills the powerful flavor properties of this essential Japanese ingredient into an easy-to-use liquid form—the only Liquid Shio Koji available on the market—to create the ultimate pantry secret weapon. We love the condiment’s clean, yet bold flavor: salty rounded out with a pronounced sweetness and burst of umami. It’s made by pressing shio koji in its original paste form and filtering until it yields the clear, golden-hued liquid. The product isn’t heat-treated, so its enzymes remain active and effective in rendering meat remarkably moist and juicy, balancing bitterness in veggies like eggplant and adding amino acids for a full-flavored finish to any dish to truly change the way you cook. Use as a marinade for meats and fish, drizzle into salad dressings and sauces to balance savory flavors, or incorporate into baked goods to add a layer of tantalizing complexity.
Japanese soy sauce brewer Suehiro makes its intense and citrusy Ponzu Shoyu without any added water, so this version of the classic dipping sauce is bursting with a stellar balance of salty, tangy and umami flavors. Traditionally brewed dark soy sauce provides a savory flavor base along with four types of Asian citrus—aromatic yuzu, tart sudachi, bitter orange and mild, sweet yukou—which add a complex tanginess and bright floral-fruity aroma. Mirin, a type of Japanese rice wine, as well as kombu dashi, an umami soup stock, round out the flavor and add body.
Japanese soy sauce brewer Suehiro makes its intense and citrusy Ponzu Shoyu without any added water, so this version of the classic dipping sauce is bursting with a stellar balance of salty, tangy and umami flavors. Traditionally brewed dark soy sauce provides a savory flavor base along with four types of Asian citrus—aromatic yuzu, tart sudachi, bitter orange and mild, sweet yukou—which add a complex tanginess and bright floral-fruity aroma. Mirin, a type of Japanese rice wine, as well as kombu dashi, an umami soup stock, round out the flavor and add body.
Yuzu Kosho is a Japanese condiment prepared from fermented yuzu, chilies, kombu and salt. This spicy, briny paste combines chili heat with yuzu, the best-tasting citrus fruit you’ve never heard of that is used broadly in Japanese cooking as an accent note. We like this kosho's fruity, bright red bell pepper aroma and subtle sweetness.
Yuzu Kosho is a Japanese condiment prepared from fermented yuzu, chilies, kombu and salt. This spicy, briny paste combines chili heat with yuzu, the best-tasting citrus fruit you’ve never heard of that is used broadly in Japanese cooking as an accent note. We like this kosho's fruity, bright red bell pepper aroma and subtle sweetness.
Only eight islands in Japan produce Okinawan brown sugar, or kokuto, a raw smoky sugar that is made by slow-cooking sugarcane juice in a centuries-old production method protected by the Okinawa Prefecture. It is smoky and intense, with a tobacco-like aroma and a perfect balance of sweet and bitterness. The Japanese sugarcane imparts a slight fruity aftertaste, and its naturally high mineral content is not only healthier for you but also translates into complex warming spice notes. Use Okinawan brown sugar as a smoky alternative to dark brown sugar, or take advantage of its spicy, bitter notes to add depth to savory recipes. Try it in rich meat braises, swapping out some of the molasses in our Sweet Soy-Braised Pork—it pairs wonderfully with the umami of soy sauce. Similarly, try it in recipes with fish sauce, such as our Stir-Fried Beef and Ginger with Garlic and Scallions or Stir-Fried Black Pepper Chicken with Green Beans; in both cases, substitute an equal amount of Okinawan brown sugar for the white sugar the recipe calls for.
Only eight islands in Japan produce Okinawan brown sugar, or kokuto, a raw smoky sugar that is made by slow-cooking sugarcane juice in a centuries-old production method protected by the Okinawa Prefecture. It is smoky and intense, with a tobacco-like aroma and a perfect balance of sweet and bitterness. The Japanese sugarcane imparts a slight fruity aftertaste, and its naturally high mineral content is not only healthier for you but also translates into complex warming spice notes. Use Okinawan brown sugar as a smoky alternative to dark brown sugar, or take advantage of its spicy, bitter notes to add depth to savory recipes. Try it in rich meat braises, swapping out some of the molasses in our Sweet Soy-Braised Pork—it pairs wonderfully with the umami of soy sauce. Similarly, try it in recipes with fish sauce, such as our Stir-Fried Beef and Ginger with Garlic and Scallions or Stir-Fried Black Pepper Chicken with Green Beans; in both cases, substitute an equal amount of Okinawan brown sugar for the white sugar the recipe calls for.
Note that while tamari is often used as a term for gluten-free soy sauce, Nitto Jozo’s White Tamari is actually all wheat-based. (In Japan, tamari simply refers to a liquid that is pressed out of another substance—in this case, wheat.) This sauce is malty-sweet and slightly tangy, a great choice for those who want the umami flavor of soy sauce with less saltiness.
Note that while tamari is often used as a term for gluten-free soy sauce, Nitto Jozo’s White Tamari is actually all wheat-based. (In Japan, tamari simply refers to a liquid that is pressed out of another substance—in this case, wheat.) This sauce is malty-sweet and slightly tangy, a great choice for those who want the umami flavor of soy sauce with less saltiness.
This is not your everyday ponzu. When one thinks of the Japanese condiment, a dark, heavily soy-based sauce likely comes to mind. But true ponzu is all about the vinegar. This one is made in the Kyoto tradition and uses the sweetness of ginger to ground its vinegar acidity. The blush-colored liquid hits the palate first with the brightness of the rice vinegar, then gives way to the layered, sweet earthiness of tomato and the sour, grapefruit-like flavor of the citrus fruit known as sudachi. A mellow brine of bonito and kombu lies at the base, as well as a hint of malty soy from white shoyu (a variety of soy sauce that uses wheat as its primary ingredient).
This is not your everyday ponzu. When one thinks of the Japanese condiment, a dark, heavily soy-based sauce likely comes to mind. But true ponzu is all about the vinegar. This one is made in the Kyoto tradition and uses the sweetness of ginger to ground its vinegar acidity. The blush-colored liquid hits the palate first with the brightness of the rice vinegar, then gives way to the layered, sweet earthiness of tomato and the sour, grapefruit-like flavor of the citrus fruit known as sudachi. A mellow brine of bonito and kombu lies at the base, as well as a hint of malty soy from white shoyu (a variety of soy sauce that uses wheat as its primary ingredient).
This is not your everyday ponzu. When one thinks of the Japanese condiment, a dark, heavily soy-based sauce likely comes to mind. But true ponzu is all about the vinegar. This one is made in the Kyoto tradition and uses the sweetness of ripe tomato to ground its vinegar acidity. The blush-colored liquid hits the palate first with the brightness of the rice vinegar, then gives way to the layered, sweet earthiness of tomato and the sour, grapefruit-like flavor of the citrus fruit known as sudachi. A mellow brine of bonito and kombu lies at the base, as well as a hint of malty soy from white shoyu (a variety of soy sauce that uses wheat as its primary ingredient).
This is not your everyday ponzu. When one thinks of the Japanese condiment, a dark, heavily soy-based sauce likely comes to mind. But true ponzu is all about the vinegar. This one is made in the Kyoto tradition and uses the sweetness of ripe tomato to ground its vinegar acidity. The blush-colored liquid hits the palate first with the brightness of the rice vinegar, then gives way to the layered, sweet earthiness of tomato and the sour, grapefruit-like flavor of the citrus fruit known as sudachi. A mellow brine of bonito and kombu lies at the base, as well as a hint of malty soy from white shoyu (a variety of soy sauce that uses wheat as its primary ingredient).
