Taiwan Terroir Soy Sauce Gift Set
島國純釀

This limited-edition tasting set showcases exemplary soy sauces from five of Central Taiwan's traditional soy sauce breweries: Yu Ding Xing 御鼎興, Xin He Chun 新和春, Wan Feng 萬豐, May Dong 美東, and Ri Hsin 日新. These breweries collaborated o together to create this joint product with the intent to showcase the diverse flavors of Taiwanese soy sauce in one box (which would normally take at least a few days driving around Taiwan's West-Central counties to discover).

This set ships free and comes with a beautiful gift box and a printed guide to each soy sauce, with tasting notes and usage suggestions. Read more about Taiwense Soy Sauce in this FAQ, published in the Yun Hai monthly newsletter.

This diversity in flavor, even within the same region, is attributable in part to terroir, or the locale in which they were produced. This includes big things, like the land the black soybeans are grown in, and little, like the age of the terracotta vats in the brew yard, and the particular strain of koi that permeates them. The brewers describe soy sauce as having an "ecosystem of flavor" that comes from their own micro-climates and ecosystems, and are all working hard to increase the understanding of this age-old, naturally fermented, umami-filled condiment throughout Taiwan and the world.

The set includes:

• Dry Aged Vat Bottom Soy Sauce (wheat-free)
• Soy Paste with Glutinous Rice Grains (wheat-free)
• Rose-Infused Light Soy Sauce (wheat-free)
• Black Soybean Sauce with Hand-Toasted Sugar (wheat-free)
• Traditional Light Black Soybean Sauce (sugar and wheat-free)

• Traditional Taiwanese soy sauce is made with black soybeans, which have a higher protein content than yellow soybeans and develop a greater amount of glutamate (umami flavor) during the natural fermentation process.
• All soy sauces included are gluten-free by tradition. Taiwanese soy sauce uses no wheat in the production and fermentation of soy sauce.
• These soy sauces represent a mix of brewing methods, from the ultra-traditional dry brew, where no water is added, to a wet brew, where a brine is used, and hybrid methods.
• All included soy sauces are fermented naturally with koji in terracotta vats that are sun-brewed for six months or more.
• Each brewery has their own unique brewing conditions, from micro-climate to strains of koji. Together, these conditions come together to create a complex ecosystem of flavor. Much like wine, no two breweries and no two seasons are alike.

Tasting Notes and Usage

Dry Aged Vat Bottom Soy Sauce (gluten-free) by Xin He Chun
Location: She Tou, Chang Hua County
Dry fermented without added water, full of the flavor of fermented black beans. A rich soy sauce best for stocks and braises.

Soy Paste with Glutinous Rice Grains (gluten-free) by Yu Ding Xing
Location: Xi Luo, Yun Lin County
Glutinous rice imparts a light, sweet aroma. Good for stir-frying protein-rich foods. A well rounded, traditional soy paste best for stir-frying and dipping.

Rose-Infused Light Soy Sauce (gluten-free) by Wan Feng
Location: Dou Liu, Yun Lin County
Notes of rose and lychee. Pair with cold poached meats and other mild food. A light soy sauce best for dipping and steaming.

Black Soybean Sauce with Hand-Toasted Sugar (gluten-free) by May Dong
Location: Dong Shi, Tai Chung County
The caramelized aroma of toasted sugar combined with fragrant black soybeans adds a beautiful color to braised dishes. A richly colored, aromatic sauce best for dipping and imparting a natural sheen to braises.

Traditional Light Black Soybean Sauce (sugar and gluten-free) by Ri Hsin
Location: Tu Ku, Yun Lin County
A light, sugar-free soy sauce with a fresh black soybean aroma, pairs well with seafood. Best for dipping.

Ingredients and Instructions

Dry Aged Vat Bottom Soy Sauce (gluten-free) by Xin He Chun
Ingredients: Taiwanese black soybeans, sea salt, sugar
180ml

Soy Paste with Glutinous Rice Grains (gluten-free) by Yu Ding Xing
Ingredients: water, Taiwanese black soybeans, Taiwan rice, sea salt, sugar
180ml

Rose-Infused Light Soy Sauce (gluten-free) by Wan Feng
Ingredients: water, Taiwanese black soybeans, sugar, sea salt, rose
180ml

Black Soybean Sauce with Hand-Toasted Sugar (gluten-free) by May Dong
Ingredients: water, Taiwanese black soybeans, sea salt, sugar
180ml

Traditional Light Black Soybean Sauce (sugar and gluten-free) by Ri Hsin
Ingredients: water, single-origin black soybeans, sea salt
180ml

About Yu Ding Xing

Made in XiLuo, Taiwan at Yu Ding Xing 御鼎興.