Is that soy sauce real? The 'one line of ingredients' that a manager of an additive-free food store always checks
At the soy sauce aisle in the supermarket,
do you just pick one up,
and put it in your basket without thinking?
Honjozo (naturally brewed), mixed-brewed, with dashi, reduced salt.
There are many types, but honestly, I don't really know the difference.
In the end, I end up choosing the same famous brand as always, or something on sale.
I think many families choose that way.
But if you are thinking, 'I want to choose something a little better because it's for my children to eat,' there is something I really want you to know.
On the other hand, I work at an additive-free food store.
Most of the soy sauce on our shelves is 'Honjozo,' made using traditional methods.
The ingredients are all simple, too.
Even so, customers are confused.
'Which soy sauce do you recommend?'
—
The confusion at the supermarket is
'I don't know the difference'kind of confusion.
The confusion at an additive-free food store is
'The differences are too subtle to understand'kind of confusion.
Domestic soybeans.
Whole soybeans.
Wooden barrel brewed.
Aged for two years.
Double-brewed.
They all look good.
Standing in front of the shelf,
comparing labels,
thinking a little.
And then, they ask a bit hesitantly,
'Is the more expensive one better after all?'
At that point, instead of naming a product,
I turn the bottle over.
'First, let's look here.'
The ingredient list.
Soybeans, wheat, salt.
First, check if these are all there.
At the supermarket, this is a major turning point.
If it says,
'Amino acid liquid'
'Seasoning (amino acids, etc.)'
then it is a mixed type.
Umami components are added later to fermented soy sauce.
Both are legally soy sauce.
They are not dangerous.The difference is
whether it is fermented over time,
or if umami is added later.That's all.
And at an additive-free food store,
most are Honjozo.
So I continue,
'If the ingredients are simple, the rest is just preference.'
・One with a fragrant aroma
・One with a deep color that makes dishes look sharp
・One with a slight sweetness that children like
From here on, it's not about the right answer, but compatibility.
What's important is
knowing 'what your standard is'.
Choosing without knowing, and choosing while understanding, makes a difference even for the same bottle.
—In families with children,
soy sauce is not a special seasoning.
Egg over rice.
Cold tofu.
Stir-fries.
Teriyaki.
Even if the amount per time is small,
the frequency of use is very high.
It adds up every day.
That's why I look at the ingredients first.
And I choose Honjozo.
Not because it's the right answer.
But because I can be satisfied with it.
You don't have to do everything additive-free.
If you aim for perfection, you will surely get tired.
But,
at least for things you use every day,
choose them with a reason.
Just by doing that,
'buying just because' ends today.
—
[Next Preview]
Next time,
I will write about
'the seasonings you should fix first'in families with children.
You don't have to do everything additive-free.
But there is an order.
Actually, there are things you should fix before soy sauce.
I will explain the reason clearly.
[Related Articles]
To those who have read this far.
I will be honest.
I once failed at going additive-free.
While handling healthy products at the store,
at home I thought this:
'Shouldn't I change everything?'
Soy sauce, miso, dashi, sausages, yogurt, bread, snacks...
The result was +7,000 to 8,000 yen per month.
I thought I could keep it up.
But it was impossible.
The reason why going additive-free doesn't last is
not a lack of knowledge.
It's trying to do everything.
From then on, I decided.
I will only change three things.
I won't worry about the rest for now.
The moment I drew that line,
the household budget stopped at +1,500 yen.
And it became surprisingly easy.
From here on,
・The 'three things you really should change' from a store clerk's perspective
・Three additives you should put back on the shelf
・Decision criteria to decide in 3 seconds at the store
・A realistic line that won't break your household budget
I have written everything specifically.
I will not write this for free.
Because,
it is 'the reality of a person who failed at going additive-free'.
Before increasing information,
first,draw a 'line'.
Only for those who want to end the confusion, please.