Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin sauce is a thick, glossy dark-brown condiment made from fermented soybean paste, sugar, vinegar, and spices. It tastes sweet-salty with deep umami and a molasses-like aroma, clings well for glazing, and works in marinades, stir-fries, noodle dishes, and as a dipping sauce; it is sold in bottles or jars.

Originating in southern China, it became a staple in Cantonese cooking and spread across Chinese regional cuisines and parts of Southeast Asia. Modern commercial versions standardize a fermented soy base with sweeteners and aromatics.