Knowledge of Soy Sauce - Material & Vegan | JOLION Foods

Soy sauce is a Chinese condiment that has been prevalent in the cuisine . However, it is now a sauce that is used across the globe.  Soy sauce is one of the most popular condiments when it comes to Asian cuisine.

You can use soy sauce as a dip, or  throw this sauce over any noodle or Asian dish for a salty, bitter but delicious burst of flavor.Whilst this condiment can be the perfect addition to your meal, those who lead a vegan diet and lifestyle can often be left wondering: is soy sauce vegan?

We are here to look at how the condiment is made, what ingredients it typically contains, and if soy sauce is actually vegan.

The simple answer to this question is yes, soy sauce is actually vegan. Most brands of soy sauce are made by brewing together wheat, soybeans, salt and water, and are fermented over several months.

HOW IS SOY SAUCE MADE? 

There are five key ingredients in soy sauce.  The first ingredient is soy beans.  These are fermented to give the sauce its distinctive flavor.  Soy sauce is additionally made with wheat, which gives it its recognisable scent, and adds a little sweetness to the sauce. 

To make soy sauce, salt and water are mixed together to make a sort of brine which will start the fermentation process of the soybeans.  The salt content also works to keep bacteria away whilst the soybeans are fermented. 

Finally, it may sound gross but there are also fungal cultures in the soy sauce making process! 

To make soy sauce, the soybeans are typically soaked and cooked in boiling hot water, whilst the wheat is roasted in preparation.  These soybeans and the wheat are mixed together to make a grain mix, and koji (fungus spore) is added to the mixture. 

Then, the mix of grain, and the propagated koji is combined with a brine for wet fermentation processes to begin.  This is the point in the process where the colour, taste and smell is developed, as the grain proteins start to break down. 

This process can take a long time for the strongest, boldest flavors to develop, whereas other commercial soy sauce companies will push through quickly. 

The grain mix is then pressed so that there are no particles, and just a liquid remains.  This then goes through a process of pasteurisation to remove any mold and yeast, before being filtered again for the last time. 

Finally, the soy sauce is packaged and bottled, ready to be sold!

WHICH SOY SAUCES ARE VEGAN? 

The best way to see which soy sauces are vegan is to check the ingredients list on the back of the packaging. 

Typically, if the soy sauce is made traditionally, and is of a high quality, then it will only have a few of the basic ingredients in it.  These traditional soy sauces will most likely be vegan friendly, and suitable for a vegan diet. 

There are a few ingredients that you will have to watch out for, as these may not be strictly vegan and unsuitable for a vegan diet and lifestyle. 

However, extra ingredients such as citric acid, caramel color, lactic acid or potassium sorbate will be 100% suitable for vegans and vegetarians.  You should watch for E numbers and flavor enhancers as these can sometimes be tested on animals. 

To ensure that you can eat soy sauce guilt and worry free, we have created a list of the best soy sauces, all of which are 100% completely vegan! 

Our favorite vegan soy sauce is the Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce.  This sauce is 100% vegan friendly, along with Kikkoman’s gluten free soy sauce.  Along with the reduced salt version. In addition, Amoy Soy sauce is also vegan friendly.  Also, Blue Dragon soy sauces are 100% vegan.  This includes both the dark and the light versions of Blue Dragon soy sauces.

As soy sauce is mainly made with just wheat, fermented soybeans, salt and water, try to find soy sauces that limit the extra added ingredients and flavorings as those may not strictly be 100% vegan. 

That being said, there are many vegan soy sauce options available, so that you can enjoy this salty, bitter yet sweet condiment on your foods!

Jolion’s soy sauce is Naturally brewed, delicious and unique. Jolion Foods is a reputable supplier of healthy condiments for restaurants and businesses. Choose our JOLION, choose your delicious life.