How Does Tamari Differ From Soy Sauce?

Womenscorner Desk

September 24, 2020

Technically, tamari is a type of soy sauce. However, it differs from traditional soy sauce due to its processing.

Traditional soy sauce is made using four main ingredients soybeans, water, salt, and wheat. These ingredients are fermented for several months using koji and moromi. Finally, the mixture is pressed to extract its liquid.

In comparison, tamari is usually produced as a byproduct of miso paste, which is made from soybeans, salt, water, koji, and moromi. It also undergoes fermentation, but unlike traditional soy sauce, little to no wheat is added.

Traditional soy sauce has a soybean-to-wheat ratio of 1:1, while tamari has little, if any, of this grain. As a result, tamari has a stronger umami taste due to its high soybean content, whereas soy sauce is sweeter as a result of its added wheat.