What Is the Best Organic Soy Sauce?

. What Makes the Best Organic Soy Sauce?

The best organic soy sauce depends on your palate, and what appeals to you may not be the best tasting to your family. However, the overall flavor profile of any sauce, such as Cantonese raw soy sauce, depends on its chemical profile. The amino acids, derivatives, organic acids, carbohydrates and chemical compounds create the taste profile, which determines whether the sauce is umami, salty or sweet.

. At a Glance: Best Organic Soy Sauces

If you’re ready to order organic soy sauce and want an upfront assessment of the best sauce for your meals, this table can help.

. 10 Best Organic Soy Sauces for Your Kitchen 

Choosing the perfect organic umami condiment for your kitchen elevates your cooking and adds a healthier touch to your meals. These sauces are free from artificial additives and preservatives, ensuring you enjoy pure, wholesome flavors without compromising on quality. 

Whether you’re looking for a rich umami kick, a gluten-free option or a low-sodium choice, these top picks have something for every taste and culinary need.

1. San-J Tamari Soy Sauce

San-J Tamari tamari soy sauce is the ultimate, smooth organic umami condiment that complements any dish. The gluten-free sauce is ideal for those with dietary restrictions, and since it’s lower in sodium than other sauces, it’s also heart-healthy. Because tamari sauce only contains soybeans and no wheat, it has a fuller, richer taste that doesn’t lose its flavor when pan-fried. 

The unique fermenting process takes up to six months before the fullest flavor maturity is ready to create a premium soy sauce every kitchen should have. If you’d prefer a more traditional flavor, consider the organic shoyu made by fermenting organic soybeans and wheat. 

Try the San-J Tamari Splash® range, choosing from a range of flavors, including a citrusy palate that’s 93% organic, a 100% organic umami flavor with red miso and a sweet 100% organic variation with maple syrup. The brand caters to a more distinct palate and bulk quantities aren’t yet available, so you may want to order several of its 10-ounce bottles each time. 

📌 Characteristics: The authentic Tamari sauce is made by fermenting only organic soybeans. It is wheat- and gluten-free and non-GMO verified. 

📌 Best uses: Ideal for gluten-free stir-fries, marinades and dipping sauces with a smooth, rich, umami flavor

2. Kikkoman Soy Sauce

Kikkoman soy sauce is a proud and heritage-rich addition to the table. Choose Kikkoman as an ideal accompaniment for fusion dishes to awaken the flavor. With undisputed quality and a USDA certification, you know you’re getting value and strict adherence to health regulations. Plus, the sauce is bottled by Kikkoman in the U.S.

Choose from the range of Kikkoman condiments, including sweet, salty, tangy, umami and acidic varieties, suitable for any menu. Unfortunately, the iconic tabletop Kikkoman sauce dispenser is unavailable for organic varieties. 

📌 Characteristics: Organic, GMO-free soybeans, wheat, water and salt create this classic sauce that’s free of preservatives and additives. 

📌 Best uses: Perfect for sushi, ramen and grilled dishes, offering a balanced umami flavor for versatile cooking

3. Yamasa Tamari Organic Gluten-Free Sauce

Yamasa tamari or shoyu sauces are ideal for a colorful addition to any meal. The rich, umami flavor incorporates acidic, sweet and tangy undertones, making them perfect for anything from Ramen noodles to sushi. 

While it’s not as widely carried as some other sauces, ordering bulk Yamasa sauce is well worth satisfying your foodie cravings. 

📌 Characteristics: This gluten-free, organic, artisanal shoyu and tamari sauce is non-GMO certified with no added MSG. 

📌 Best uses: Complements sushi rice, dumplings and teriyaki dishes with its rich, umami flavor and gluten-free recipe

4. Lee Kum Kee Premium Organic Soy Sauce

If you’re interested in bulk quantities, Lee Kum Kee Premium Organic Soy Sauce is a great choice with two sizes available — 8.4-ounce and 16.9-ounce bottles. It’s suited to dipping, stir-fries, stews and any other use for the umami flavor. 

The rich natural fermentation process produces a sauce that’s traditional enough to suit authentic Asian cuisine and also innovative enough to encourage vibrant fusion menus.

📌 Characteristics: This unique, organic offering is made with organic ingredients, including soybeans, wheat flour, salt and water. It features non-GMO beans and has no added preservatives. 

📌 Best uses: A versatile choice for lo mein, fried rice, and marinades with a bold and authentic umami flavor

5. Sempio Organic, Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce 

Choose Sempio Organic Soy Sauce for a smooth and complex taste that’s stood the test of time. Sempio has made a name as one of the oldest Korean condiment manufacturers. Its sauce incorporates the highest-quality ingredients, with only organic alcohol as a preservative. With a long shelf life of 24 months and bulk quantities available, stocking up is a thrilling experience for any chef.

📌 Characteristics: It is made from 100% organic ingredients, including soybeans from the U.S. and wheat from Argentina. Using unpressed beans makes the sauce smoother and clearer on the palate. 

📌 Best uses: Great for Korean dishes like bulgogi or bibimbap, adding smooth, complex flavors to every bite

6. Ohsawa Nama Shoyu Japanese Soy Sauce

Connoisseurs enjoy this fresh and unpasteurized condiment, which Ohsawa Nama Shoyu producesafter fermenting for over a year in 150-year-old cedar casks. The process follows the same traditional method practiced for the last 100 years in Kamikawa, where brewers stir the vats daily to encourage natural fermentation. 

The amber color is unique from other soybean sauces, and the resulting mellow umami taste is perfect for dipping tofu, flavoring raw foods and adding flavor to any dish. 

📌 Characteristics: This naturally fermented soy sauce is produced from organically grown soybeans and wheat. It’s made with spring water, sea salt and Aspergillus oryzaeenzymes. 

📌 Best uses: Enhances raw dishes like poke and sashimi and offers a fresh, mellow, umami taste for dipping or drizzling

7. Soeos Soy Sauce

The vibrant taste of organic Soeos Soy Sauce makes it ideal for dipping and bringing life to bland recipes. It’s also preservative-free, which makes it a healthy option for those seeking a tasty condiment for their raw food diet. 

A low-sodium version is also available, perfect for those who need to cut back on salt. 

📌 Characteristics: It’s made with organic soybeans and wheat brewed into a versatile and healthy condiment. 

📌 Best uses: For bold stir-fries and marinades, providing a vibrant, deep flavor and striking red color

8. Eden Shoyu Soy Sauce

If you want to buy in bulk, a 52.8-gallon barrel of shoyu soy sauce from Eden will delight your umami taste buds for the following year. The mellow flavor is ideal for any kitchen’s creations. It’s barrel-brewed for one year and is also available in a two-year-aged variety for an even more intense flavor.  

📌 Characteristics: Eden manufactures this product from organic soybeans and wheat with authentic and natural Japanese enzymes — koji (Aspergillus oryzae) — for a traditional taste. 

📌 Best uses: Ideal for miso soups and vegetable stir-fries, offering a mellow, umami-rich flavor for everyday cooking

9. Pearl River Bridge Soy Sauce

While Pearl River Bridge Soy Sauce speeds up the natural fermentation process when producing soy sauce, the resulting taste is pleasant and flavorful. The natural brewing process gets a kick-start with the addition of sugar. It is an excellent go-to when you’re looking to bulk your meal’s flavor profile. 

📌 Characteristics: This convenient and affordable organic soybean condiment is produced in Southern China using traditional methods. The product uses organic soybeans, wheat flour and organic sugar, and fermentation takes around 100 days.

📌 Best uses: Perfect for fried rice, stir-fried greens and marinades, delivering a balanced, flavorful umami profile

10. 365 Soy Sauce by Whole Foods Market

A retailer like Whole Foods Market may not strike you as a quality condiment producer, but the 365 soy sauce is a solid kitchen staple. It’s available in an organic traditional variety and as a low-sodium option for health-conscious buyers. It’s not quite as bold in flavor as other brands, but the overall profile is well-rounded and pairs with most dishes. 

📌 Characteristics: This organic, naturally brewed soybean sauce offers simple convenience and is available in two varieties — a 10-ounce and a 20-ounce bottle. 

📌 Best uses: A mild, budget-friendly option for stir-fries, soups and salads, perfect as an everyday salt replacement

. How to Choose the Best Organic Soy Sauce

The best soy sauce adds a perfect blend of salty, sweet, sour and tangy without overpowering your recipe. Soy condiments are healthier than options with preservatives and additives, but only if they're authentically organic. If you’re wondering how to choose the best organic soy sauce, this is what you should look at.

. Check the Ingredients

An organic soy sauce should not include harmful ingredients like preservatives or additives. It should contain the basics — organic soybeans, organic wheat, water, salt — and if it contains some alcohol as a preservative, that’s OK. 

Sugar helps the fermentation process along. However, when it contains additives like lactic acid or other chemicals, you know the product isn’t natural, and you’re not getting your money’s worth. 

. Look for Traditionally Fermented or Brewed

A good soybean sauce needs time to ferment or brew. If it doesn’t state that it’s naturally fermented or brewed, it’s a quickly made product that won’t taste the same as the real deal. 

. Choose Certified Quality

Always look for a clear label or certification confirming the product is organic. Keep in mind that not everything with a label meets the standards. Look for the USDA Organic seal to ensure the ingredients are certified. The label should explicitly list soybeans and wheat as organic for a healthy sauce. Alternatively, it might specify that the product is 100% certified organic.

. Select Your Flavor Profile

Light soy or amber-colored sauces are usually lighter and milder in taste. Dark or red versions are bolder and have a heavier taste profile. Milder means saltier, while a richer sauce is sweeter. Your dish will stipulate which type matches best. 

. Weigh the Salt Content

Choose carefully if you’re on a low-salt diet. Some sauces can have over 1,000 mg of sodium, but low-sodium options contain less than half that. 

. Consider Your Allergies

If you have a gluten intolerance, it’s best to look for a gluten-free, organic soybean condiment. You can consult the ingredient list if it doesn’t state this on the label. Some sauces only use soybeans and no wheat flour, which makes them a safer bet for those with sensitivities. 

. Selecting the Perfect Organic Soy Sauce

With these considerations, you can find the perfect soy sauce that will tick all your taste-bud boxes — organic, tasty, low-sodium, brewed or fermented, gluten-free and with a well-rounded umami flavor profile. 

Fermented soybeans have a rich history, often passed down through generations of master brewers. While the fermentation process happens behind the scenes, the love, cedar-aged barrels, daily stirring and perfect blend of ingredients bring it to life. This harmony of tradition and nature creates a flavor profile that elevates your culinary creations.