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Top 15 Best Japanese Soy Sauces – From Premium Shoyu to Everyday Use

Top 10 Best Japanese Soy Sauces – From Premium Shoyu to Everyday Use-Japanese Taste
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    Any fans of authentic Japanese cuisine should always keep their kitchen stocked with a bottle of Japanese soy sauce or shoyu, a staple ingredient that’s so versatile it’s used in a variety of dishes from salad dressings and dipping sauces to soup bases and marinades.

    Whether you are a shoyu expert or are new to the world of soy sauce, here are our recommendations for the top 15 Japanese best soy sauces that are available to buy online, even if you are living outside of Japan.

    Teraoka Organic Shoyu 3 Years Barrel Aged Soy Sauce

    Teraoka’s naturally fermented soy sauce is carefully handmade following traditional techniques in an organic-certified brewery that has old-century wooden barrels. Besides being organic what makes this soy sauce distinct from regular soy sauces is that it is fermented naturally in these wooden barrels for 3 years. This time intensive process and the unique brewery’s “ecosystem” brings out distinct characteristics. Enjoy its assertive full-bodied taste with a faint aroma of cedar. Pairs well with sashimi, chilled tofu, steaks and grilled fish. It can be a great secret ingredient of soups or nabemono (Japanese hot pot). 

    Teraoka Organic Shoyu Handmade Japanese Soy Sauce

     

    Teraoka Organic Shoyu Japanese Barrel Aged Soy Sauce 500ml

    $23.95

    Takesan Kishibori Premium Soy Sauce

    For sushi and sashimi lovers looking for a premium dipping sauce to accompany their dishes, this simple yet rich in flavor soy sauce is a must-buy product. Produced on the tiny island of Shodo and fermented for one year in 100-year-old cedar barrels, this premium soy sauce contains just three ingredients to include whole soybeans, wheat, and salt. The absence of preservatives and MSG make this shoyu a healthy soy sauce option compared to other products.

    Takesan Kishibori Shoyu Premium Japanese Soy Sauce 360ml

    Takesan Kishibori Shoyu Premium Japanese Soy Sauce 360ml

    $16.95

    Marunaka Shoyu Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce

    Another luxurious soy sauce product made from all-natural ingredients, Marunaka Shoyu Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce has been brewed in the same traditional cellars located between the Suzuka Mountains and Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture for more than 200 years. The traditional brewing practices used by Marunaka have been passed down for generations, creating a unique product with ingredients sourced from local farmers. A versatile soy sauce, Marunaka Shoyu can be used to add umami flavor to anything from carpaccio to desserts.

    Marunaka Shoyu Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce

     

    Marunaka Shoyu Naturally Brewed Japanese Soy Sauce 300ml

    $29.00

    Yamaroku Tsurubishio Shoyu Japanese Soy Sauce

    A double brewed soy sauce made on Shodo Island, a region renowned for producing high-quality soy sauce, the Yamaroku Tsurubisho Shoyu is brewed slowly over a four-year period, resulting in a rich, full-flavored product. Whilst regular soy sauce is brewed using salted water, Yamaroku’s sauce is double brewed using soy sauce instead and is best enjoyed by simply pouring over your food, from sashimi to steaks.

    Yamaroku Tsurubishio Shoyu Japanese Soy Sauce

     

    Yamaroku Tsurubishio Shoyu Barrel Aged Japanese Soy Sauce 500ml

    $32.99

    Yamasa Organic Whole Soybean Soy Sauce

    A high-quality soy sauce product from Yamasa made using whole soybeans, this organic soy sauce is free from all preservatives and artificial flavors. One of Japan’s oldest producers of soy sauce, Yamasa has been making shoyu since 1645, using the latest technology combined with centuries-old traditional brewing process to create their products. A favorite brand among professional chefs across Japan, Yamasa soy sauce is considered one of the best soy sauces for sushi but can also be used with boiled fish and simmered dishes.

    Yamasa Organic Whole Soybean Soy Sauce

     

    Yamasa Organic Whole Soybean Soy Sauce 1000ml

    $28.00

    Yamasa Whole Soybean Soy Sauce

    One of the major drawbacks of artisan soy sauces is that their quality deteriorates faster than those containing additives and preservatives. Indeed, exposure to oxygen spoils shoyu’s flavor, umami, and color. If you wish to enjoy fresh soy sauce to the final drop, try this product. A special bottle prevents the sauce from making contact with oxygen, so it helps the shoyu stay fresh and brilliantly red-brown for a long time. You will also love the bottle’s user-friendliness because it’s designed to allow you to hold and adjust the squeezing amount easier.

    This whole soybean sauce is versatile, and you can further enjoy it by combining it with other seasonings. For example, to make a spicy tuna bowl, season it with this shoyu, mirin, and black pepper. Another fancy use that you might want to try is when cooking a stir-fry dish add this soy sauce, sesame oil, butter, and garlic to the ingredients.

    Yamasa Whole Soybean Soy Sauce

     

    Yamasa Whole Soybean Soy Sauce 600ml

    $16.00

    Fundokin Naturally Brewed Japanese Soy Sauce

    A naturally fermented soy sauce produced by Fundokin in Oita prefecture on the island of Kyushu. The Fundokin company have been making shoyu since 1861 and holds the Guinness Record for the world’s largest wooding brewing barrel at 9 meters high! This soy sauce is fermented naturally for over one year in wooden barrels made from cedar. A reddish-brown shoyu with a rich fragrance and without saltiness, this soy sauce tastes great when paired with tofu, pickled vegetables, and sashimi.

    Fundokin Naturally Brewed Japanese Soy Sauce 500ml

    Fundokin Naturally Brewed Japanese Soy Sauce 500ml

    $18.00

    Marunaka Shoyu Traditional Japanese Dark Soy Sauce Black Label

    One of the most expensive soy sauce products available to import from Japan, Marunaka’s Black Label Traditional Japanese Dark Soy Sauce’s premium price tag is down to the longer fermentation period compared to its standard soy sauce product, resulting in a darker color and richer tasting shoyu. An ideal purchase sure to impress any dinner guests, this soy sauce can be served with sushi or as a cold sauce with salads, carpaccio, boiled and grilled fish dishes.

    Marunaka Shoyu Traditional Japanese Dark Soy Sauce Black Label 720ml

    Marunaka Shoyu Traditional Japanese Dark Soy Sauce Black Label 720ml

    $38.00

    Kikkoman Halal Gluten-Free Soy Sauce

    It can be difficult to find Japanese food products that cater to specific dietary requirements, however this gluten-free soy sauce produced by Kikkoman does the job and is suitable for individuals with wheat allergies in addition to being Halal compliant. The result is an authentic tasting soy sauce made by the most popular manufacturer of Japanese soy sauce, ideal for seasoning and adding flavor to cooking.

    Kikkoman Halal Gluten-Free Soy Sauce

     

    Kikkoman Halal and Gluten-Free Japanese Soy Sauce 1L

    $19.99

    Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce Tabletop Glass Dispenser

    Kikkoman, the company with the largest market share in Japanese soy sauce, is also a believer in whole soybean sauce. They argue that the fat in the whole soybean helps maintain the shoyu’s aroma; eventually breaks down to a natural-derived sweetener called glycerin; and prevents the liquid from oxidation. As a result, their whole soy sauce has a slight sweetness and brings it a long-lasting freshness. With this product, you can enjoy its clear red-brown color, non-viscous texture, complexity of flavors that aren’t out-and-out salty, and clear aftertaste. This condiment is suitable for acting as a base ingredient for boiled or simmered dishes like nikujaga (stewed beef and potato), nizakana, and teriyaki. 

    Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce Tabletop Glass Dispenser

     

    Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce Tabletop Glass Dispenser 150ml

    $7.65

    Goto Shoyu Japanese Sweet Soy Sauce Akane

    A family-owned company based in the north of Kyushu, Goto Shoyu uses soybeans sourced from Fukuoka prefecture to make its soy sauce along with the addition of a sugar syrup to make a sweet tasting product that is popular in the local region. Despite the sweet taste, this soy sauce is 100% natural, made without chemical seasonings, artificial colors, sweetners, and flavors. Try it with sashimi or add it to your cooking sauces.

    Goto Shoyu Japanese Sweet Soy Sauce Akane 500ml

    Goto Shoyu Japanese Sweet Soy Sauce Akane 500ml

    $28.00

    Choko Low Salt Japanese Soy Sauce

    For health-conscious people, Choko’s Low Salt Soy Sauce is one of the best low sodium Japanese soy sauces available to purchase. Containing 50% less salt than regular soy sauce, this non-GMO shoyu produced in Nagasaki is a good option if you are looking to improve your diet and reduce your salt intake. Choko succeeded in reducing the salt without degrading the shoyu’s original quality thanks to their special “koji-adding” method. By adding koji (malted soybean and wheat) during the fermentation process, the overall salt content is reduced without diluting the flavor and umami. You’ll be surprised that its taste isn’t much different from regular soy sauces.

    Choko Low Salt Japanese Soy Sauce

    Choko Low Salt Japanese Soy Sauce 500ml

    $15.99

    Choko Kakepon Ponzu Organic Yuzu Soy Sauce

    For a different flavor, this soy sauce from Choko includes the addition of yuzu citrus fruit to create a lighter, tangy, milder tasting product, similar to vinegar. Using yuzu juice sourced from Kochi prefecture (Japan’s largest producing region of yuzu), this refreshing sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for gyoza dumplings, grilled meats and vegetables, and salad dressing.

    Choko Kakepon Ponzu Organic Yuzu Soy Sauce

     

    Choko Kakepon Ponzu Organic Yuzu Soy Sauce 400ml

    $15.99

    Marumata Gluten-free Organic Tamari Soy Sauce

    Even if you are living in Japan, it can be quite difficult to find a tamari soy sauce that has the following conditions: organic, additive-free, and gluten-free, but do not worry, there is a soy sauce that does meet all these conditions. Marumata Tamari Soy Sauce is an organic shoyu (certified under the JAS, Ecocert, and USDA) for people with a wheat allergy. It is also an additive-free soy sauce that people intolerant to chemical additives can also enjoy.

    Tamari shoyu is a type of soy sauce that has a richer flavor than its normal counterparts. Very long in fermentation, it contains very rich umami that can enrich any dish with only a few drops. Although it apparently looks saltier than normal shoyu because of its dark color and viscous texture, its salt content is almost the same or slightly less than standard koikuchi soy sauces. You can still experience its savoriness even if you dilute it with water.

     

    Marumata Tamari Shoyu Organic Gluten-Free Japanese Soy Sauce 360ml

    $18.95

    Yamato Hishio Raw Soy Sauce

    When it was revealed that many chefs from 3-star establishments around the world give their patronage to this shoyu, many core fans of Japanese cuisine sought this product by searching stores on the Internet. Indeed, this shoyu is amazing! Raw soy sauce, or nama shoyu (sometimes pronounced as nama jyoyu), is a soy sauce that is processed without heat sterilization. This brings the shoyu an extra mellow flavor that preheated soy sauces do not have. You don’t have to worry about hygiene because the liquid gets filtered with a special microfilter that can effectively remove impurities without disrupting its original taste. It also contains enzymes, which help your body stay clean from the inside.

    Yamato Hishio Shoyu Japanese Raw Soy Sauce 180ml

    $12.98

    4 comments

    • Hi RuthAnn,

      Unfortunately, we do not offer variety packs but we will take your comment into consideration in the future.

      Japanese Taste ,

    • Hi Nathaniel,

      Thank you for your question. We would love to assist you further and provide the best answer possible, so could you submit your question to our contact form? You can access it here: https://japanesetaste.com/pages/contact

      Japanese Taste ,


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