Dry goods & condiments
Douchi (Fermented Black Soybeans)
A fermented black-soybean seasoning sold as small dark wrinkled whole or broken beans, not ready-made black bean sauce.
- 繁體中文
- 豆豉
- English
- Douchi (Fermented Black Soybeans)
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Douchi / Kedelai Hitam Fermentasi (豆豉)
- Tagalog
- Douchi / Fermented Black Soybeans (豆豉)
What is it?
A fermented black-soybean seasoning sold as small dark wrinkled whole or broken beans, not ready-made black bean sauce.
How to identify it
Look for small black-brown wrinkled fermented beans, usually fairly dry or lightly oily, with 豆豉 on the label.
- Visible whole or broken beans
- Dark wrinkled skins
- Strong savoury fermented-bean aroma
Common confusion
豆豉 is whole or broken fermented beans; black bean sauce is a wet prepared sauce with additional ingredients.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Used for steamed fish, stir-fries, black-bean sauce and steamed ribs.
Preparation or handling
Rinse lightly or chop only if the label/recipe directs. Use a clean utensil and add gradually because it is strongly seasoned.
Storage
Follow the label; reseal after opening, refrigerate when directed and keep wet utensils out.
Helper tip
豆豉 contains recognisable beans. Bottled black bean sauce has added ingredients and is not a one-for-one volume substitute.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
要乾豆豉，唔係樽裝豉汁。Buy the fermented beans themselves, not prepared bottled black bean sauce.
Useful market phrase
Please give me whole-bean 豆豉.