Zhongba Dark Soy Sauce (Naturally Brewed)

An essential ingredient in the Chinese pantry, dark soy sauce is simply soy sauce that has been sweetened but still retains its salty-savoriness (unlike sweet soy sauce, which tastes mostly sweet). It is used frequently for its unparalleled coloring and flavoring properties, adding an umami boost and an appealing red-brown tint to meats, braises and sauces. 

(Note that "light soy sauce" is the term used for regular, salty soy sauce; "light" does not refer to sodium or calorie content but to the color and consistency compared to dark soy sauce.)

If you've had Zhongba's naturally brewed light soy sauce–either the 360 version for everyday use or the super special handcrafted version–then you already love it and know that it redefines Chinese soy sauce. The historic Sichuan company's dark soy sauce similarly lives up to the Zhongba name. 

Zhongba Dark Soy Sauce is naturally brewed for 180 days. Unlike supermarket brands of dark soy sauce, which taste mainly of sugary molasses and little of soy, Zhongba Dark Soy Sauce tastes like umami-rich soy sauce that's been sweetened. Its long fermentation and trademark mushrooms and spices deliver the intense mahogany-red tint that makes food so appetizing. While Zhongba light soy sauces contain no additives or preservatives, the addition of sugar in the dark version necessitates a preservative. Zhongba also adds a touch of caramel and msg to the dark soy. 

While dark soy sauce is used most famously in "red-braised" dishes (hong shao rou), it's also frequently added to stir-fries and sauces. And though one wouldn't want to use most dark soy sauces as a dipping sauce, the tastiness of Zhongba dark may tempt you to do so (diluted with a bit of water).

Additionally, we like Zhongba dark as the base of almost all of our grilling and roasting marinades. Just mix Zhongba dark soy sauce, Zhongba 360 light soy sauce, a bit of Asian sesame oil and minced garlic. Add a touch of black vinegar or fresh orange juice if you're feeling ambitious. The result will dazzle both the eye and the mouth. 

Sichuan's famed Zhongba Soy Sauce has been made continuously since 1828 and is still made the traditional way. Zhongba is a China Time-Honored Brand, meaning it has painstakingly documented its long and esteemed history.

Producer: Sichuan Qingxiangyuan Flavoring Co., Jiangyou, Sichuan
Ingredients: water, soybean, wheat, salt, caramel, msg, mushroom, spices, sucralose, potassium sorbate 
Contains: soybean, wheat
Size: 16.9 ounces (500ml

• Trump tariff, partially reflected in price: 58%
• A Mala Market Exclusive
• Naturally brewed for 180 days
• Sweet-salty taste, full body, deep-red color
• Proprietary recipe ferments soybeans with the prized "mouth mushroom" for added umami and nutrients
• China Time-Honored Brand, in operation since 1828