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Dry goods & condiments

Light Soy Sauce

A pourable soy seasoning used mainly for flavour; confirm “Light Soy Sauce” or 生抽 on the original label.

Identification illustration; actual appearance may vary.
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3 identity clues

  • Original label says 生抽 or Light Soy Sauce
  • Usually a pourable brown liquid
  • Ingredients, sodium and allergens come from the label
Reading language:
English
Names in other languages
繁體中文
生抽
English
Light Soy Sauce
Bahasa Indonesia
Kecap kedelai encer (生抽)
Tagalog
Toyong maputla / Light Soy Sauce (生抽)

Name in Cantonese (Jyutping): sang1 cau1

What is it?

Light soy sauce is a standard Hong Kong household seasoning. FEHD lists 生抽 as Light soy sauce. Colour, saltiness and formulation vary, so colour alone is not an identity test.

How to identify it

Read the original label for 生抽 or Light Soy Sauce, then check the seal, bottle and date. The sauce is often more fluid than dark soy sauce, but appearance is only supporting evidence.

Common confusion

This item

Light Soy Sauce

  • Original label says 生抽 or Light Soy Sauce
  • Usually a pourable brown liquid
  • Ingredients, sodium and allergens come from the label

Compare

Dark Soy Sauce

  • Original label names it 老抽 or Dark Soy Sauce
  • A dark sauce is not automatically a substitute for light soy or oyster sauce
  • Confirm the food name and ingredient list on the original label; do not rely on colour, thickness or container shape.

Compare

Oyster Sauce

  • An oyster-based savoury sauce used for marinades and stir-fries.
  • Use for marinating, stir-frying or dipping as directed by the recipe.
  • Confirm the food name and ingredient list on the original label; do not rely on colour, thickness or container shape.
How to identify it

Light soy sauce is usually thinner and used for seasoning; dark soy sauce is often thicker and darker for colouring. Brand differences make the original label essential.

Dark Soy Sauce

Generic blank-label bottle and white dish showing pourable very dark brown dark soy sauce
Identification illustration; actual appearance may vary.

Oyster Sauce

Generic blank-label bottle and white dish showing thick glossy dark-brown oyster sauce
Identification illustration; actual appearance may vary.

Common Hong Kong household uses

Used in stir-fries, marinades, steamed fish, dipping sauces and final seasoning.

Choosing & preparing

Measure according to the recipe and keep the bottle mouth away from raw meat. Read the label for soy, wheat and other allergens and for sodium information.

Storage

Follow the original label before and after opening. Wipe the neck, close tightly and refrigerate if the label requires it.

Helper tip

If the employer says 豉油, ask whether they mean light or dark soy sauce. Light soy usually seasons while dark soy often colours, but the label is the authority.

What Ma’am or Sir may say

落一湯匙生抽，唔好落老抽。

The employer wants one tablespoon of light soy sauce and specifically says not to use dark soy sauce.

Useful market phrase

唔該要一支普通生抽。

Meaning: One bottle of regular light soy sauce, please.

What can I cook with this?

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Last reviewed:

Sources (4)
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Light Soy Sauce

An unbranded original light soy sauce bottle beside a small amount of pourable brown sauce; the real product label must be read
Identification illustration; actual appearance may vary.

生抽

Light Soy Sauce

An unbranded original light soy sauce bottle beside a small amount of pourable brown sauce; the real product label must be read
Identification illustration; actual appearance may vary.