How are these soy-based sauces made?
Can they be used interchangeably?
Find out the differences between soy sauce and tamari.
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Plus, learn which one is best for a gluten-free diet.
Tamari vs. Soy Sauce
What Is Tamari?
Tamari is a fermented soybean sauce with an umami-forward flavor.
It’s believed to have originated in China but was popularized in Japan.
When it was first produced, tamari was a by-product of the miso-making process.
Miso paste is formed by cooking and fermenting soybeans.
Those nuggets are then placed in an incubation chamber before they get transferred to a fermentation tank.
During the fermentation process, the koji mixes with salt and water to create a mash known as moromi.
The moromi is then left to age for several months to develop its flavor, color and aroma.
Finally, the moromi is pressed to extract the tamari.
What Is Soy Sauce?
Soy sauce is a fermented, umami-flavored sauce made from soybeans.
It originated in China.
It’s made from four ingredients: water, soybeans, wheat and salt.
Soy sauce has a similar production process to commercially made tamari, but the key differing ingredient is wheat.
After the moromi is left to age and develop, it is pressed to yield the soy sauce.
Luckily, most brands offer a low-sodium or reduced-sodium version, which isEatingWell’s go-to choice in our recipes.
Soy sauce is made with wheat, soit’s not gluten-freebut tamari is.
Since tamari is 100% soy-based, it’s suitable for those with a gluten allergy or intolerance.
Some brands, likeKikkoman, sell products labeled gluten-free soy sauce, where they swap the wheat for rice.
If you have a gluten allergy, be sure to read the label.
Due to its higher concentration of soy, tamari has a richer and smoother taste.
It’s also a little thicker than soy sauce, although both have an easy pourable consistency.
Try tamari in recipes likeTamari-Ginger Meatball & Eggplant Casserole.
Try soy sauce in recipes likeSoy Sauce EggsorSoy-Lime Roasted Tofu.
While they can be used interchangeably in recipes, tamari is gluten-free whereas soy sauce is not.
Choose the low-sodium or reduced-sodium versions of the sauces when possible to reduce your sodium intake.
