shoyu brands

[rebeccag]

Hi there,

I noticed that all the brands of shoyu I've checked have alcohol in the ingredient list. I seem to remember a recommendation to use non-alcoholic shoyu. Does anyone know of one? [Would it have to have it for preservation? ]

Thanks for checking your bottle!
~Rebecca

[Roy Collins]

Hi Rebecca. You are correct. Many of the soy sauce makers have joined the band wagon and started using the very yin and unhealthy preservative (alcohol) in their ingriedients. We found this out a few years ago and had to change brands. WE now use Eden organic shoyu (soysauce) but there are a few others that are sold wiothout alcohol as well: EMperor's Kitchen, Ohsawa Brand, and Lima. Maybe others as well. Check out the natural food store at cybermacro (discount natural foods) on the main page, or ask the manager at your local health food shop to order the good stuff.

Have you noticed too that a lot of the health food products are now putting cane sweetner in nearly everything? I wonder what's up with that?

In peace, Roy

[rebeccag]

Hi Roy,

It's funny, I am the manager of a health food store!!! In the catalogs there are no ingredient lists, so your brand list helps a lot, thank you. [Right now we sell San J "in bulk"- and it is quite good tasting, but has that preservative]Champlion's General Store

It is just ........awful about the influx of sugar in so many products. Many good brands with organic ingredients that you use to trust- check the label- now organic cane crystals or some such wording will be there. Our distributor's rep said they have been trying to meet with manufacture's to let them know how they are letting down the people who have gotten them successful- but the response has been that they are aiming for the more main stream market.

Keep reading labels and ask your local stores to order- and then please buy- the none-sugared and no GMO foods. There are some good companies out there!

~Rebecca

[rebeccag]

I wanted to mention - the shoyu we tried is great! [the Ohsawa brand]. When I openned the top there was a loud "pssss"- ! This soy sauce is alive! The taste is wonderful- light and flavorful.

I put some in the counter pourer and the bottle in frig. Does it need to be refrigerated?

Thanks,
Rebecca

[Roy Collins]

Hi Rebecca. I'm glad to know that you were able to locate the quality shoyu and that you like it. Salt is a natural preservative in soy (there is a lot in there) and therefore it does not need to be refrigerated.

I should take a drive over to your store sometime. I just opened an art restoration shope in Northeeast CT (Putnam). I'll check the map again. WHen are you there? Do you have a cafe there?

In peace, Roy (always hungry)....

[rebeccag]

Congrats and best wishes for your new shop! I drive through Putnam- what street and name?

It would be fine to visit us at Champlion's General Store- no cafe there- but not far is a very good Chinese restaurant we can recommend! Chang's Garden. On route 195 by UConn. They make fine brown rice [you have to ask for it] and great vegetables- and ask for the Chinese menu and find seaweed salad and more unusual fare- great energy and wait staff too.

I'm usually at the store Fri 9-5, Tue, Wed and Thur 12-5. But sometimes we switch hours or I'm off for a week- so You could email to check.- There's the email link and store directions in a page at the web site for my home business- [making buckwheat hull pillows] -at http://www.pillowcrafters.com

Happy Spring,
Rebecca