Tag: Gluten free miso

While traditional Japanese miso is fundamentally a fermented soybean paste, the answer to "Is miso paste soy free?" is not a simple 'no'. The market has expanded significantly, and specialized soy-free varieties now exist to cater to those with allergies and dietary concerns.

Over 80% of the miso produced in Japan is rice miso, and a foundational component of this traditional paste is soybeans. This means that while rice is a key ingredient used to make the koji (fermentation starter), soybeans are almost always included in the final product.

Did you know that sweet white miso is aged for a much shorter period than its darker, saltier counterparts, sometimes as little as a few weeks? This quick aging process, combined with a unique ingredient ratio, is central to understanding what are the ingredients in sweet white miso and how they produce its mild, sweet flavor.

According to research, many white misos are made with rice koji, which is naturally gluten-free. However, the ingredients can vary by brand and some may contain gluten-based grains, so it’s crucial to check labels when buying sweet white miso.