Most of the sesame oils you see in markets are toasted, so they have a dark amber color and rich aroma.

Sesame oil is one of the more recognizable flavors of Chinese and Asian cooking. In the past, the only alternative was Tamari, but there are more options available today.įor more pictures, different types, and brands that we use regularly, read up on soy sauce on our Chinese Sauces page. A few companies have developed gluten-free soy products. Over the years, we’ve learned to appreciate the nuances of good soy sauce to improve our recipes!įor those of you who are gluten free, don’t fret. If you see a long list of chemicals and/or corn syrup and sweeteners as ingredients on the bottle, I recommend avoiding it! Otherwise it may be a cheaper artificially-flavored or chemically formulated version. The key to identifying a good soy sauce is making sure it is naturally brewed. Like anything else, everyone has their favorite brands. While soy sauce is very commonly used as a table condiment by both Asians and Westerners, you might be surprised to learn there are differences in taste, saltiness and color among soy sauce brands and soy sauces from different countries including Thailand, Japan, and China. So many Chinese dishes use this ingredient, and nowadays, many western chefs are adding soy sauce to their pantry arsenal to add extra umami to their dishes.

Soy sauce is the most iconic and well-known Chinese pantry essential that you likely already have stocked. 10 Essential Chinese Pantry Ingredients 1.

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