
Dry goods & condiments
Dark Soy Sauce
Dark Soy Sauce is the food named on the original package label; this image illustrates only one possible appearance.
- 繁體中文
- 老抽
- English
- Dark Soy Sauce
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Kecap kedelai kental (老抽)
- Tagalog
- Toyong maitim / Dark Soy Sauce (老抽)
What is it?
Dark Soy Sauce is a food item commonly encountered in Hong Kong homes and markets.
How to identify it
Confirm the food name and ingredient list on the original label; do not rely on colour, thickness or container shape.
- Dark Soy Sauce is the food named on the original package label; this image illustrates only one possible appearance.
- Confirm the food name and ingredient list on the original label; do not rely on colour, thickness or container shape.
- A similar appearance does not establish the same product; confirm the food name and ingredients on the original label.
Common confusion
Light Soy Sauce / Oyster Sauce
A similar appearance does not establish the same product; confirm the food name and ingredients on the original label.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Use only as directed by the recipe and original label; colour, thickness and container shape do not establish its use.
Preparation or handling
Before use, check the food name, ingredient list and allergen statement on the original label; do not rely on this image alone.
Storage
Follow the original label storage directions exactly and keep the container properly closed.
Helper tip
Use the Hong Kong name and confirm the food name and ingredient list on the original label; do not rely on this image alone.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
唔該要老抽,俾我睇清楚先。The employer wants Dark Soy Sauce and asks for it to be checked before purchase.
Useful market phrase
唔該要老抽,俾我睇清楚先。Does the image look correct?
Last reviewed
Sources
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items - Other Foods
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Other foods Cantonese pinyin
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items Multilingual Booklet
- Hong Kong Consumer Council — Online Price Watch household product categories
- Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety — Food Safety Focus (231st Issue, Oct 2025) – Article 4: Beware of Allergens in Food